Politics Meloni's Albania plan comes to a standstill
Italy's plan to accommodate migrants in Albania is facing legal hurdles. A court ruling forces the government to take migrants back, shaking Meloni's migration policy.
12.11.2024, 14:05
12.11.2024, 14:06
SDA
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing a major challenge: her plan to accommodate migrants in Albania is coming up against legal obstacles. A court in Rome has ruled that Italy must take back seven men from Bangladesh and Egypt who were housed in a camp in Albania. This decision represents a significant setback for Meloni's migration policy, which aims to reduce irregular migration across the Mediterranean.
The migrants were returned to Italy after the judiciary declared their detention outside Italy to be unlawful. A court ruling had previously forced the return of 16 men from the Albanian camp to Italy. These developments raise questions about the legality of the plans of the right-wing coalition in Rome, which Meloni launched two years ago with the promise of controlling migration.
Empty camps and high costs
The two camps in Albania, which were intended to accommodate migrants, are now largely empty. The operating costs of these facilities are estimated at over 500 million euros until 2029, which raises the question of whether they should remain open. Other European countries are also monitoring the situation closely as they consider similar plans. The UK had already tried to relocate asylum procedures to Rwanda, but failed.
The final decision on the legality of the Albanian camps now lies with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Before that, however, Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, is expected to issue a ruling at the beginning of December. The central question is which countries are considered safe countries of origin and whether national or European law takes precedence. Meloni argues that the determination of safe countries of origin is a task for the government, while the Italian courts refer to a ruling by the ECJ.
Political tensions and international reactions
The dispute between the Italian government and the judiciary has intensified. Members of the right-wing coalition accuse the judiciary of acting in the interests of the left-wing opposition. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the verdict as politically motivated and directed against the security of Italians. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also criticized the judiciary, while Meloni himself showed restraint after the new defeat.
Meloni received support from Elon Musk, who criticized the judges on his Platform X. Musk, who maintains close contacts with the Italian government, is increasingly interfering in European political affairs.
The seven migrants who had to return to Italy had previously been stopped near the island of Lampedusa. They were carefully selected to ensure that they were healthy, adult men from safe countries of origin. Despite the rejection of their asylum applications through fast-track procedures, the judiciary prevented their repatriation.
Italy is one of the countries most affected by the movement of refugees to Europe. Over 50,000 people have already arrived there this year. Meloni's plan envisages that up to 36,000 asylum applications will be decided in Albania every year. Human rights activists and the opposition have criticized the plan as overpriced, and the Italian Court of Auditors is currently examining the appropriateness of the costs.
