Italy's Lower House on Thursday gave
definitive approval to a package of measures to combat irregular
migration introduced by the government after the February 26
shipwreck off Steccato di Cutro in Calabria that left 94
refugees and migrants confirmed dead.
The provisions, initially set out in a decree law pending
conversion by parliament into law with amendments, were approved
with 179 votes in favour, 11 against and 3 abstentions.
The so-called Cutro law includes controversial restrictions to
Italy's protection regime for asylum seekers not qualifying for
international protection. It also makes it more difficult for
beneficiaries of protection under national law to remain in
Italy legally once their permits have expired.
In addition, the provisions introduce new penalties for migrant
traffickers and new accelerated border procedures for asylum
seekers coming from countries considered to be safe.
The package also introduces important changes to Italy's
two-tier reception system, with all asylum seekers with the
exception of unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable
categories, Ukrainians, Afghans and those arriving via the
humanitarian corridor scheme now being accommodated in
first-line reception centres often housing large numbers of
people and under the new provisions now also offering a more
limited range of services for the duration of the refugee status
determination procedure; and beneficiaries of international
protection being accommodated in the second-line 'widespread'
reception system run at municipal level and facilitating local
integration and integration.
The law represents the second clamp-down on migration enacted by
the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni after it introduced new
rules restricting migrant search and rescue operations in the
Central Mediterranean targeting NGOs.
Italy has been grappling with a significant rise in the number
of sea arrivals in recent months, with 42.405 arrivals since the
start of 2023 compared to 11.226 over the same period in 2022
and 10.616 in 2023.
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