Italy has set a foot back on the migrant camps in Albania, after its controversial deal to process migrants rescued at sea in Albania faced significant legal hurdles. The Italian government, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, recently signed a five-year agreement with Albania to send thousands of irregular migrants to processing camps in the country. However, just days after the first group of migrants arrived, the plan has encountered a major setback following a ruling from an immigration court in Rome.
Italy’s Albania Migrant Deal Faces Legal Challenges
Italy’s agreement with Albania, designed to relocate and process up to 3,000 migrants per month, has been dealt a blow by a special immigration court ruling. The court determined that 12 migrants who had been sent to a camp in Gjader, near Albania’s northern Adriatic coast, must be returned to Italy. The ruling cited that the migrants came from countries deemed unsafe to return to, a decision that has cast doubt on the future of Italy’s migrant processing deal.
Prime Minister Meloni responded by criticizing the court’s decision, arguing that it is the government’s prerogative to determine which countries are safe for migrants to be sent to. “It’s not for the judiciary to say which countries are safe—it’s for the government,” she told reporters, indicating that the Italian administration plans to challenge the ruling.
Broader Implications of the Deal
The decision marks a significant setback as Italy sets a foot back on the migrant camps in Albania, a plan that was aimed at alleviating the pressure on Italy’s immigration system. The camps were set to process and, where applicable, repatriate migrants rescued from the Mediterranean. The agreement with Albania, costing an estimated €800 million, does not apply to women or children, and the first group sent included only male migrants.
The first group consisted of 16 men, mostly from Bangladesh and Egypt, who were transported by the Italian navy. However, that number was quickly reduced to 12 after health screenings revealed that two were minors and two others were considered vulnerable. The decision by the Rome court to return the remaining migrants to Italy complicates Meloni’s vision for the agreement, which she hopes to make a model for broader European immigration policies.
Opposition and Criticism
Italy’s opposition parties have been vocal critics of the migrant processing deal. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, has questioned the high costs associated with the plan, suggesting that the funds could be better spent on domestic issues like healthcare. In particular, the estimated €800 million expenditure on the Albanian camps has sparked debates about resource allocation, particularly as Italy grapples with its own internal challenges.
Despite the legal and political challenges, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the agreement. He indicated that the Italian government would appeal the court’s decision, emphasizing that the migrant camp initiative is seen as a crucial part of Italy’s strategy to address irregular migration. Piantedosi also asserted that the plan could become a blueprint for broader European immigration reform within two years.
European and International Reactions
As Italy sets a foot back on the migrant camps in Albania, the deal has attracted interest across Europe. EU leaders, grappling with their own challenges related to migration, are closely watching how the agreement plays out. During a recent summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that new proposals are in the works to speed up the return of irregular migrants across the continent. The idea of processing migrants in “safe third countries” has gained traction, and Italy’s arrangement with Albania could set the stage for future agreements involving other nations.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged discussions with Giorgia Meloni about the “concept” of Italy’s migrant deal, signaling potential interest in similar measures. As migration continues to be a divisive issue across Europe, Italy’s strategy of sending migrants to Albania has the potential to influence broader EU migration policy.
Future of the Albania-Italy Agreement
The recent court ruling poses a significant challenge to Italy’s plan, but the government remains committed to pursuing the deal. Prime Minister Meloni has scheduled a cabinet meeting to address the legal hurdles and chart the next steps for the migrant processing initiative. While Italy sets a foot back on the migrant camps in Albania, the government insists that it will continue to fight for the deal’s implementation.
For now, the future of Italy’s migrant camps in Albania hangs in the balance. As legal battles continue, and as more migrants are intercepted in the Mediterranean, the stakes remain high for both Italy and Albania. Should the agreement survive the legal scrutiny, it could serve as a template for how Europe handles irregular migration in the coming years.
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