Italian Court Halts Meloni's Albania Migrant Processing Plan

Judges block detention of migrants in Albania, citing EU law conflicts and referring the case to European Court of Justice.

Italian judges have stopped the transfer of seven migrants from Albania back to Italy, challenging the legality of the offshore processing centers.
The court's decision follows an earlier ruling that migrants cannot be sent to countries deemed unsafe, questioning Italy's list of 'safe' countries.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government had planned to process up to 36,000 migrants annually in Albania, but legal setbacks have left the facilities largely empty.
The European Court of Justice will now determine if Italy's designation of 'safe' countries complies with EU standards, potentially impacting similar policies across Europe.
The ruling has intensified tensions between Italy's government and judiciary, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini criticizing the judges' decisions as politically motivated.