ROME – Italy’s navy began transporting 49 migrants to detention facilities in Albania on Sunday, marking a renewed push for a controversial plan aimed at curbing sea arrivals. The move, a key component of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s immigration policy, has faced significant legal challenges since its announcement.
This initiative involves a bilateral agreement between Italy and Albania, making Italy the first European Union country to redirect migrants to a non-EU nation. Two reception centers have been established in Albania under the deal, but legal hurdles have kept them largely unused since November.
The Italian Interior Ministry announced that a patrol vessel was en route to Albania with the 49 migrants, while an additional 53 individuals, who presented valid passports to avoid immediate relocation, remain in Italy as their statuses are verified.
The policy has drawn scrutiny after Italian courts questioned its legality, ordering the return of previous migrant groups detained in Albania back to Italy. At the heart of the controversy is a 2024 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling. The ruling stipulated that no country can be deemed universally “safe” if parts of it pose dangers to migrants, challenging Italy’s strategy of deporting individuals to Albania from a predetermined list of “safe” countries.
The ECJ is expected to review Italy’s plan in the coming weeks to determine whether it complies with EU law. A ruling in favor of the policy would bolster Meloni’s government, which views it as a cornerstone of its efforts to reduce irregular migration into the country.
Despite the legal challenges, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi defended the policy, describing it as “a necessary measure to address the growing pressures of illegal immigration.” However, human rights organizations and opposition lawmakers have criticized the initiative, arguing it violates international asylum norms and undermines migrant rights.
As the European court deliberates, the future of Italy’s Albania-bound migration policy hangs in the balance, setting a precedent that could reshape EU migration strategies.