Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is working to find a solution for Italian-run migrant centers in Albania ahead of a ruling by the European Court of Justice. Meloni is exploring options to keep two controversial centers operational after Italian courts blocked a protocol between Rome and Tirana aimed at speeding up asylum processing.
The two centers, in Shengjin and Gjader, have remained empty since Italy’s courts ruled against the detention of the first three groups of migrants sent there in the fall and winter. Meloni is committed to the original plan and is seeking alternatives as the court decision looms.
One option under consideration is converting the centers into repatriation facilities, where irregular migrants from Italy could be housed. This shift could help bypass the legal issues around detaining asylum seekers. Discussions have taken place between Meloni, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, and further talks are expected in the coming days. Meloni has also spoken with Austria’s Chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, about migration.
This shift is part of Italy’s broader migration strategy, which Meloni and Piantedosi argue could serve as a model for the European Union. Piantedosi has called for reforming the EU’s repatriation rules to allow illegal migrants to be transferred to neighboring countries when repatriation to their home countries is not possible.
Several options are still being considered for the Albanian centers, with no final decisions made yet on how to move forward. Transforming the centers into repatriation facilities would avoid the need for judicial approval of migrant detentions, a requirement for asylum seekers. However, this approach may require revising the protocol between Italy and Albania, a step that could delay the plan.
