Italy’s prime minister says her government will deploy every tool at its disposal to “guarantee the security of our borders” after approving a bill authorising naval blockades to stop boats from arriving in Italy during periods of “exceptional pressure”. View image in fullscreen Giorgia Meloni said the legislation would speed up the deportation of people convicted of crimes and expand the cases that could result in expulsion. The European parliament this week approved changes to EU asylum rules in response to pressure from member states, including Italy, for a harsher approach. “If you want to live here, you need to respect the Italian laws,” Meloni said. And we are determined to guarantee the security of our borders and our citizens, and we will use every tool at our disposal to ensure it.”

Source: The Guardian February 12, 2026 14:46 UTC