Overview

• The European Court of Justice ruled Italy’s expedited rejection of asylum seekers from designated safe countries complies with EU law but must meet strict legal standards
• Judges challenged the legitimacy of Italy’s safe-country list underpinning migrant processing centres in Albania
• Italy’s offshore detention facilities remain empty after Italian courts halted transfers over legal and rights concerns
• The ruling arose from the case of two Bangladeshi nationals whose asylum claims were swiftly denied under Italy’s safe-country classification
• Prime Minister Meloni’s office called the decision surprising and detrimental to border controls while critics highlight the scheme’s cost and rights implications