Italy Resumes Migrant Transfers to Albania as Legal Challenges Continue

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni restarts controversial offshore processing plan despite ongoing court disputes and EU scrutiny.

Italy has transferred 49 migrants to Albania on a navy vessel, reviving a plan to process asylum seekers outside EU borders.
The processing centers in Albania, built under a 2023 agreement, had been dormant since November due to legal rulings by Italian courts and EU regulations.
The European Court of Justice is set to review the legality of Italy's designation of 'safe' countries for repatriation in February, following earlier rulings that blocked the plan.
Critics, including opposition politicians and human rights groups, argue the scheme violates international law and serves as political propaganda, while supporters see it as a model for other EU nations.
Italy has allocated €650 million over five years for the centers, which aim to process up to 3,000 male migrants monthly, focusing on those from designated 'safe' countries.