This is very puzzling. I've watched at least 4 videos now from Dominic Cummings who states, quite clearly, that we cannot use the Navy to stop the boats without falling foul of the ECHR.

So how can Italy? Something isn't right with one of these scenarios.

— ResponsibleAdult (@CommonishGround) February 12, 2026

The European Parliament has approved new regulations to tighten EU migration and asylum policy, including the “safe third country” concept, with 396 MEPs in favor of the changes and 226 against.

The rules will allow EU member states to deem asylum applications inadmissible if the applicant transited through a country deemed “safe” where they could have sought protection. They also facilitate the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries (outside the EU), even if the applicant has no direct connection to that country, provided a transit connection or similar link exists.

...Moreover, “asylum tourism” will be stopped, and appealing a decision will no longer automatically halt deportation.

“No more years of living free at taxpayer expense while left-wing lawyers drag out the proceedings,” she argues.

In addition, member states will gain the right to conclude their own agreements with third countries on returning migrants. “Brussels can no longer block our negotiations; we just need to inform them before the agreement comes into force,” ZajÄ…czkowska-Hernik wrote.

States will also be able to impose restrictions on freedom and detention to prevent migrants from disappearing before deportation.

Italy’s government has proposed using a “naval blockade” to block migrant boats from reaching its shores.

The bill to tighten migration rules, agreed by Giorgia Meloni’s ministers on Wednesday, provides for a temporary ban “on crossing the limit of territorial waters in cases of serious threat to public order or national security”, according to the document.

Such a threat could include “exceptional migratory pressure that could compromise the secure management of borders”, a “concrete risk” of terrorist acts or infiltration in Italy, global health emergencies and high-level international events.

Italy’s new migration package – which also includes stricter surveillance at borders and cooperation with European agencies – comes a day after the approval of the new EU pact on migration and asylum, which Rome plans to implement swiftly.

The temporary ban, which would have to be issued by the cabinet on the advice of the interior ministry, could last from an initial 30 days to a maximum of six months and would enable Italian authorities to impose a naval blockade on migrant ships trying to enter Italy’s territorial waters, under the specific conditions.

...The conservative coalition led by Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, is now looking at changing the purpose of the centres in Albania in order to circumvent the objections of the Italian courts.

Under the new plan, migrants who are in Italy and who have had their asylum requests turned down after a process that can take many months, would be transferred to the centres in Albania and from there repatriated.

...“The centres have to work. The fight against illegal migration must come with a clear message – illegal migrants cannot enter Italy,” said Raffaele Nevi, from Forza Italia, one of the three parties that makes up the Meloni coalition. “The government is doing everything it can to block them.” He accused the Left-wing opposition of “wanting to welcome anybody”.

...Her government has signed accords with North African countries to limit departures, while restricting the activities of the charities that operate rescue boats in the Central Mediterranean.

The new law could further hamper the operations of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which only rescue a small percentage of people who arrive in Italy, with most rescued by the coastguard or navy.

The proposed bill would also expand the list of convictions for which a foreigner can be expelled from Italy.

Labour's 'one in, one out' migrant deal with France is facing a new legal challenge.

The policy which came into operation last summer face legal action in the High Court from 16 migrants on Wednesday.

Their challenge is understood to claim the deal breaches modern slavery laws and an international treaty which sets out how governments should deal with claims of human trafficking.

...A further 322 migrants reached the UK on Monday, pushing the total to have come under Labour past 66,000.

Earlier this week it emerged that more migrants have arrived during Sir Keir's time in Downing Street than under any other prime minister, overtaking the previous high of 65,811 under Boris Johnson.