Italy’s controversial plan to outsource migrant processing to Albania hit another snag on Friday as a naval ship carrying eight migrants docked in the Albanian port of Shengjin.
The move comes amid ongoing legal challenges to the policy, which has drawn scrutiny from European Union member states.
The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has implemented a new law to circumvent legal obstacles and expedite the transfer of migrants to Albania.
Under the 2023 agreement, asylum seekers intercepted within Italy’s search and rescue zone would be transported to Albania for faster processing. However, the plan excludes vulnerable groups such as women and minors.
To be eligible for processing in the two Italian-run centers in Albania, migrants must originate from countries deemed “safe” by the Italian government.
The centers would operate under Italian law, staffed by Italian personnel, and asylum cases would be heard remotely by Italian judges.
Despite facing legal challenges, Meloni expressed optimism about the EU’s interest in the plan.
However, the government now awaits a court ruling on the detention of the eight migrants in Albania.
A previous attempt to detain a group of migrants in Albania was rejected by Italian judges, who cited a recent European Court of Justice ruling that prohibits designating parts of a country as “safe.”
In response, Italy has passed a law declaring all parts of the 19 countries on its “safe” list as safe.
Yet, this move has been met with resistance from Italian judges, who have refused to sign off on detention orders and sought clarification from the European Court of Justice.
Meloni warned that the ongoing legal battles could lead to a situation where no countries are considered “safe,” making it impossible to manage immigration and curb illegal arrivals.