Italy introduced new regulations to restrict private vessels from rescuing migrants at sea.

On December 29th, local time, the Italian government approved a decree, which strictly restricted the ships of non-governmental charitable organizations from carrying out illegal boat rescue operations in the Mediterranean, aiming at reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the coastal areas of Italy. Many international aid groups are dissatisfied with this new regulation, saying that the rescue may be delayed and more illegal immigrants will die.

According to DPA, according to the new regulations, the rescue ship must sail to the designated port immediately after completing a rescue, and cannot continue to rescue other ships in distress carrying illegal immigrants at sea; Usually, the rescue boat will find a port to dock after rescuing a number of migrants in distress. Violation of the new regulations will result in a fine of up to 50,000 euros. If the regulations are repeatedly violated, the rescue boat may be confiscated or detained.

In addition, the new regulations require the rescued person to indicate whether he intends to apply for asylum, which European Union country to apply for asylum, and fill in the application materials before disembarking.

Among the main smuggling routes into the EU, Italy is the main entry point from North Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. These illegal immigrants often cross the sea in crowded and crude boats, and many people die halfway.

The Associated Press quoted data from the Italian Ministry of the Interior as saying that more than 103,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Italy this year, an increase of 55% over the same period last year.

According to the Italian government, the reason why the actions of civilian rescue boats are restricted is because such actions attract more illegal immigrants to embark on the road of smuggling, which actually provides convenience for smugglers in the Mediterranean. In November this year, the Italian government once refused to dock two rescue boats carrying hundreds of rescued people, which triggered criticism.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia meloni said at the year-end press conference on the 29th that the new regulations will make those NGOs that carry out the rescue of migrants at sea act in accordance with international law.

In addition to the new regulations, the ports of call designated by the Italian government are moving farther and farther north, away from the smuggling routes of immigrants.

The European humanitarian relief agency "Mediterranean Emergency Help Organization" said on the 29th that its rescue ship "Viking at Sea" rescued 113 people from an overloaded rubber boat two days ago, including many pregnant women, three newborns and 30 unaccompanied children, and is now heading for the northern Italian port city of Lavaine. It is far from the central Mediterranean route and takes four days to arrive.

Oliver Kulikovski, from the German Ocean Watch, said that the new Italian regulations will lead to more drowning incidents. "If more people are in distress at sea and rescue boats are forced to enter the port, it will violate the rescue obligation.".

In recent years, the tide of smuggling has intensified, and Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Malta have been under pressure. They criticized other EU countries for not fully fulfilling their commitments in sharing the burden of accepting illegal immigrants.