Italy blocks nationwide airport strikes to protect Olympic travel
Suspected sabotage again halts high-speed trains on Rome–Naples and Rome–Florence lines
EU unveils first-ever Visa Strategy, pledging fully digital applications by 2028
Latest News
Germany issues global travel advisory highlighting protest and petty-crime risks in Italy
Berlin’s updated travel advisory places Italy on a list of countries where demonstrations, strikes and petty crime could affect visitor safety. Companies sending German nationals to Italy must show due-diligence measures, and the notice may prompt tighter documentation checks at Italian hotels and airports.
Italian Government Moves to Block Airport Strikes During Milano-Cortina 2026
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini says an emergency decree will bar two nationwide airport strikes slated for 16 February and 7 March, arguing they would tarnish the Milano-Cortina Games. The move invokes a rarely-used clause of Italy’s strike law, giving airlines and travellers short-term certainty but signalling a tougher stance on labour unrest during hallmark events.
Rights Groups Warn Italy’s New Immigration Bill ‘Fast-Tracks Deportations’
A draft law before Italy’s parliament would let authorities bar ships from territorial waters for up to six months and return migrants to third countries without full asylum screening, according to HRW. The NGO says the bill endangers lives and hampers rescue groups, while employers worry about knock-on effects for Italy’s migration climate.
Unions Double-Down on 16 February Airline Walk-out Despite Olympic Pressure
Aviation unions confirm that partial and full-day strikes at easyJet, Vueling and ITA Airways will proceed on 16 February, threatening hundreds of flights despite government plans to ban walk-outs during the Games. The standoff keeps mobility risk high and underscores the need for robust travel-disruption planning.
Italy Plans Naval Deployment to Turn Back Mediterranean Migrant Boats
The Times reports that Rome intends to deploy naval assets to prevent migrant boats entering Italian waters, imposing €50,000 fines on non-compliant rescue NGOs and diverting passengers to ‘safe third countries.’ The policy widens Italy’s maritime enforcement toolbox and signals a tougher line ahead of EU asylum-system reforms.
Olympic Logistics Ripple Outward: Bulgarian Posts Warns of Parcel Delays to Italy
Bulgarian Posts says parcels bound for Italy could be delayed by up to two days because Olympic road closures are disrupting Poste Italiane’s collection and delivery schedules in Lombardy and Veneto. Firms that send time-critical mobility documents through the post should switch to tracked courier or digital channels until mid-March.