ROME: Italian judges ruled on Friday against the detention of the first group of migrants sent for processing in Albania, undermining a key policy of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government.
The judges cited a recent European Court of Justice ruling, stating that the 12 migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt do not meet the criteria for detention under the Rome-Tirana agreement. As a result, they must be returned to Italy.
Meloni’s post-fascist Brothers of Italy party criticized the decision, labeling the judges as “politicised” and arguing that it indicates there are “no safe countries of origin,” which complicates efforts to repatriate irregular migrants. This ruling follows an earlier setback where four of the initial 16 migrants sent to Albania were deemed “vulnerable” and required repatriation to Italy.
Under the Rome-Tirana deal, migrants intercepted by Italian vessels within Italy’s search and rescue area are to be transferred directly to Albania for processing, with exceptions for vulnerable individuals. Meloni’s government aims for the scheme to expedite the repatriation process.
Italy recently expanded its list of “safe” countries to 22, which includes nations that may not universally meet safety standards. The European Court of Justice has stipulated that EU member states can only designate entire countries as safe, not specific regions.
Following the transfer of the 16 migrants to Albania on Wednesday, Meloni described the initiative as a “new, courageous, unprecedented path,” noting interest from other EU leaders. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about the adequacy of protections for asylum seekers in Albanian processing centers. These centers will operate under Italian law, with Italian security and staff, and judges will hear cases via video from Rome.
