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Italy Expands Migrant Centers in Albania to Include Repatriation Hubs
ROME – The Italian government, led by the far-right coalition, authorized a decree on Friday broadening the mandate of Albanian migrant processing centers to incorporate “repatriation” hubs, aligning with a recent European Union initiative for managing asylum seekers. This move aims to utilize existing facilities in Albania for handling migrants subject to deportation, addressing challenges within the EU’s migration framework.
Revised Role for Albanian Centers
Under this newly sanctioned decree, the two facilities situated in Albania, initially designated for processing non-vulnerable migrants rescued in international waters, will now also accommodate migrants who have arrived in Italy, faced asylum application rejections, and subsequently received deportation orders. This expansion signifies a strategic shift in the centers’ operational scope.
Centers Largely Inactive Since Opening
Despite their establishment in October, the Albanian centers have remained predominantly inactive. This inactivity stems from a combination of legal obstacles and considerable opposition from human rights organizations. These groups voice concerns that the centers potentially contravene international legal standards and endanger the fundamental rights of migrants.
Project Disappointment and Financial Investment
The project, representing a substantial financial commitment of nearly 800 million euros over five years, has been a source of disappointment for the current conservative administration headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The intended operational efficiency has yet to be realized, prompting the government to explore alternative functionalities for these centers.
Initial Setbacks and Judicial Scrutiny
Following protracted construction phases, the initial groups of migrants transferred to Albania in October, November, and January experienced swift returns to Italy. This occurred after Italian judicial officials declined to validate their detention within the non-EU nation. These incidents underscored the legal complexities surrounding the project’s implementation and operational framework.
Minister Piantedosi on Decree’s Intent
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi clarified in a Friday press conference that the latest decree does not fundamentally alter the existing agreement with Albania. Instead, he emphasized that it introduces supplementary functions to the established centers, aiming to enhance their utility and operational relevance within the broader migration management strategy.
Clarification on Decree’s Impact
“The decree modifies the legislative act that ratifies the protocol with Albania, without modifying its core substance, thereby enabling the transfer to the already operational Gjader repatriation center also migrants originating from Italy,” Piantedosi stated. This adjustment seeks to streamline the deportation process for individuals denied asylum in Italy.
Objective: Center Reactivation
He further added, “That would enable us to promptly reactivate that center, ensuring it does not become functionally obsolete.” The government’s objective is to revitalize the Albanian facilities and ensure they fulfill a practical role in managing migration flows and repatriation procedures.
EU Proposal and Broader Context
Italy’s initiative, providing Prime Minister Meloni with a renewed opportunity to revitalize the costly Albanian centers, follows a European Commission proposal in March. This EU proposal advocated for the establishment of new “return hubs” in third-party countries to accommodate rejected asylum-seekers, addressing the broader issue of deportation effectiveness within the European Union.
Addressing Deportation Challenges Across EU
According to the European Commission, only approximately 20% of individuals with deportation orders are effectively removed from EU territories. In response to this challenge, the Commission presented the “European System for Returns” as a potential mechanism to improve the efficiency of deportations across member states.
EU-Wide Deportation Framework
This proposal intends to establish a standardized approach for all 27 EU member states, empowering national authorities from one country to enforce deportation orders issued by another. Such provisions were notably absent from the EU’s migration and asylum pact approved in the preceding year, highlighting the evolving nature of EU migration policies.
Anticipating European Court of Justice Ruling
The Italian government is also awaiting a forthcoming verdict from the European Court of Justice, anticipated this summer. This ruling carries the potential to authorize the Albanian centers to operate in accordance with their original intended purpose, potentially resolving the legal ambiguities that have hindered their full functionality to date.