An Italian coast guard vessel brought back the first 12 migrants from newly opened immigration facilities in Albania to Italy on Saturday following a court decision in Rome.
A ruling by an Italian court on Friday opposed the right-wing government’s approach of keeping migrants in asylum processing centers outside the European Union, according to an Italy-Albania agreement.
The court declared that these migrants must be returned to Italy as their home countries—Egypt and Bangladesh—are not deemed safe.
During this week, these migrants were relocated to a site in Gjader, where, according to the agreement between Albania and Italy, they were to undergo expedited border procedures.
Originally, the group consisted of 16 migrants; however, four have already been sent back to Italy—two for medical reasons and two because they are minors.
The court’s decision challenges the arrangement between Italy and Albania, which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has praised as a new “model” for tackling illegal migration.
Under the agreement, an Italian judge is tasked with deciding on the asylum requests of migrants housed in the Albanian centers.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Lebanon, Meloni described the court’s decision as “biased” and stated it was her government’s role to determine which nations are safe.
“The government perhaps needs to better define what ‘safe country’ means,” she said.
At a press conference, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed confidence that the decision would be overturned, noting that the government would take the matter to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Currently, due to the court’s ruling, all migrants must be transferred back to Italy.
Over the next five years, the costs for these centers in Albania are projected at $730 million. These facilities are managed by Italy and fall under Italian legal jurisdiction, with external security provided by Albanian guards.
Italy has agreed to accept migrants who are granted asylum, while those whose applications are rejected face deportation directly from Albania.
