Italy’s agreement with Albania to detain up to 36,000 migrants annually has encountered another legal obstacle. On Tuesday, the Italian coast guard returned seven Bangladeshi and Egyptian men, who had been held in Albania, to Italy after a court in Rome blocked their detention outside the country. This is the second time Italian judges have overturned the plan.
The migrants were rescued by an Italian warship and later sent to Albania, but judges ruled that European Union law takes precedence, requiring their return to Italy. The ruling sparked outrage from Italy’s government, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini accusing judges of endangering Italy’s safety. The issue also gained attention from Elon Musk, who supported Meloni’s position.
In 2023, Meloni struck a deal with Albania to process migrants outside Italy. However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that countries cannot be considered “safe” for repatriation unless all regions and minority groups are secure. As a result, the Italian government plans to challenge the ruling and continue its efforts to curb irregular immigration.
The offshore detention plan, expected to cost €800 million over five years, has strained relations between Italy’s executive and judiciary, with Salvini calling the judges “anti-Italian” amid ongoing tensions.
