Italy faces EU scrutiny as migration debate sharpens across bloc

Greece's migration minister called criticism from human rights groups a 'badge of honor' on Monday, vowing to further toughen policies he described as 'the toughest — if not the toughest — in Europe,' according to the Associated Press. The remarks underscore a widening gulf between Mediterranean governments and international bodies over how far states can go in restricting asylum seekers and migrants.

Italy has itself become a focal point of this debate. Tens of thousands marched through Rome on Saturday in rival anti- and pro-migration demonstrations after a far-right citizens' initiative seeking sweeping measures against migrants garnered enough support to be brought to Parliament, the AP reported. The proposal includes a migrant 'repatriation bonus' scheme that opposition parties and legal groups have criticized as unconstitutional and ethically problematic.

The parallel hardening of stance in Greece and Italy reflects a broader shift in EU member states toward more restrictive immigration policies, even as the European Commission and international human rights organizations voice alarm. The Guardian's Rome correspondent noted earlier this month that such demonstrations have become a barometer of Italy's deepening political divisions over migration.