Government to Proceed with Albania Asylum Processing Plan Amid Legal Challenges
Rome: The government will persist in its efforts to tackle irregular immigration by advancing its plan to process asylum applications in Albania, as part of a strategy to establish regional hubs supported by European partners, according to sources close to the interior ministry.
According to Ansa News Agency, the government is committed to combating irregular immigration, which is often exploited through the misuse of asylum requests, as a means to undermine the operations of human traffickers. The agreement between Rome and Tirana for the expedited processing of asylum claims at Italian-operated centers in Albania is considered a foundational step toward the establishment of genuine regional hubs, a concept that has garnered full support from European ministers.
During a recent Home Affairs Council meeting in Warsaw, the position of Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi was reportedly endorsed by his European counterparts. European partners, in alignment with the Commission, are contemplating the enhancement of EU regulations that support border procedures, including those implemented in Albania. This includes accelerating the enforcement of the pact’s rules and exploring innovative approaches.
The documents discussed in Warsaw explicitly cited the Italy-Albania Protocol as an exemplary model of innovative collaboration with a third country. The new migration and asylum pact is set to be implemented by 2026.
On Saturday, a coast guard vessel was returning 43 migrants to Italy from Albania after a Rome appeals court did not confirm their detention under a scheme that has faced judicial obstacles. The government plans for the Albanian centers to eventually process approximately 3,000 migrants monthly.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has praised the agreement as a potential model for other nations, with several countries expressing interest.
In addressing previous court decisions regarding the detention of asylum seekers in fast-track processing centers in Albania and Italy, interior ministry sources criticized the current legal framework as short-sighted. They noted that appeals courts often defer cases to the European Court of Justice to buy time, despite the system being included in the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, effective by 2026.
On Friday, Rome’s appeals court highlighted that the government’s December decree listing 19 safe countries for repatriation lacked clarity on safeguarding all categories of people and failed to specify the information sources regarding the conditions in those countries. Judicial sources indicated that the decree’s exclusion of information on the social and political conditions in countries like Bangladesh and Egypt, especially concerning vulnerable groups, necessitated further consideration.
Due to differing interpretations of European and Italian legislation on what constitutes safe countries, Rome’s magistrates have referred the case to the European Court of Justice, which is expected to provide a ruling on February 25.