Italy’s ambitious migration plan hits an unexpected roadblock.
Giorgia Meloni’s government faces a significant setback as courts challenge its controversial migrant processing deal with Albania. Just days after the first arrivals, Italy’s plan to manage irregular migration through offshore camps has encountered legal obstacles that threaten to derail the entire initiative.
The Italian Prime Minister’s five-year agreement with Albania aimed to process migrants rescued at sea in camps outside of Italy. However, a special immigration court in Rome has now dealt a blow to this plan.
The court ordered the return of 12 migrants to Italy from a camp in Gjader, northern Albania. The reason? People deemed their countries of origin unsafe for repatriation.
The Italian government has been shocked by this ruling, and Meloni has pledged to challenge it. “It’s not for the judiciary to say which countries are safe—it’s for the government,” she stated firmly. The Prime Minister has called an emergency cabinet meeting for Monday to address the issue.
The Italian-Albanian agreement aimed to manage approximately 3,000 irregular migrants each month, rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. While the European Union reports a 64% decrease in irregular migration via the Central Mediterranean route this year, governments across Europe still face pressure to manage arrivals effectively.
Critics have questioned the cost-effectiveness of the plan, estimated at €800 million (roughly $666 million). Opposition leader Elly Schlein of the Democratic Party suggested this money could have been better spent on healthcare.
The first group of migrants arrived in Albania on Wednesday aboard an Italian navy ship. Of the initial 16 men from Bangladesh and Egypt, four were quickly returned to Italy due to being minors or vulnerable individuals. The court’s decision now mandates the return of the remaining 12 men to Italian soil.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi remains optimistic, insisting that Italy’s migrant camp plan will become European law within two years. However, this assertion faces challenges from current EU regulations.
The European Court of Justice clarified two weeks ago that a country can only be considered safe if it never resorts to persecution, torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Italy’s deal with Albania has attracted attention from other European nations, including the UK. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer confirmed discussing the “concept” with Meloni last month.
Meanwhile, EU leaders agreed at a recent summit to speed up the return of irregular migrants, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposing new measures for protection in “safe third countries.”
The situation highlights the complex nature of migration policy in Europe. As governments seek innovative solutions, they must navigate a web of legal, ethical, and practical considerations. The outcome of Italy’s challenge to the court ruling will likely have far-reaching implications for similar initiatives across the continent.
As this story develops, all eyes will be on Meloni’s government and its response to this unexpected hurdle. Will Italy manage to save its migrant processing plan, or will it need to start over? The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future of this controversial policy and its potential impact on European migration management strategies.