Italian Court Blocks Migrant Transfers to Albanian Processing Centers

A Rome appeals court rules against Giorgia Meloni's plan to process asylum seekers in Albania, citing legal concerns over jurisdiction and safe country classifications.

• An Italian appeals court ordered the return of 43 migrants from Albanian detention centers to Italy, overturning the government's attempt to expedite deportations from non-EU territory.
• This marks the third judicial rejection of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's 'Albanian model' since October 2024, which sought to process asylum claims outside EU borders.
• The court emphasized that decisions on asylum applications must occur within EU jurisdiction, pending further guidance from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
• Meloni's administration argues the policy is necessary to address rising migrant arrivals, which increased by over 30% in January compared to the previous year.
• The government is exploring legal options, including challenging the court's jurisdiction and awaiting the ECJ's ruling on the classification of safe countries, expected later this month.

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