Italy’s controversial plan to use Albanian camps for rapid deportations is falling apart, with empty facilities and mounting legal issues. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s proposal, aimed at sending rejected asylum seekers to Albania, has hit a major roadblock after several court defeats.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that migrants who have had their asylum requests rejected could soon be housed in Albanian camps, but the plan has already been delayed three times by the courts. The camps, including those in Shëngjin and Gjadër, have remained empty since their opening last fall. They were briefly used to hold men detained by Italy’s coastguard while attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
The system relies on rapid decisions regarding asylum requests, but this model is yet to work. Italy’s courts have repeatedly blocked the plan, citing legal concerns about whether Albania can be considered a “safe country of origin” for deportations. The government can only send adult men from countries deemed safe, leaving women and children off the list.
As tensions grow between the Italian government and the judiciary, Piantedosi said that efforts are underway to resolve the issues and get the camps operational again. However, resistance to such plans remains strong in Albania, which isn’t part of the European Union.
With costs exceeding €650 million, these camps were designed to house over 1,200 migrants. Italy remains the only EU country running such facilities outside its borders, and other European nations are closely monitoring the situation.
Italy continues to face mounting challenges with migration, as nearly 66,500 new arrivals were recorded last year, far fewer than expected. Tragic deaths on the dangerous Mediterranean route persist.
