Italy Resumes Migrant Transfers to Albania Despite Legal Uncertainty

The Italian government has restarted sending migrants to Albanian processing centers, with the European Court of Justice set to review the legality of the policy in February.

• An Italian naval vessel transported 49 migrants intercepted near Lampedusa to a processing center in Albania, as part of a controversial policy reinstated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government.
• The migrants being transferred are primarily from countries classified by Italy as 'safe,' including Egypt, and meet specific criteria such as being male, adult, and healthy.
• This policy, agreed upon with Albania in 2023, aims to process asylum claims outside the EU, but has faced criticism from human rights organizations and legal challenges in Italian courts.
• Italian courts previously halted similar transfers, citing concerns over the designation of migrants' countries of origin as entirely 'safe,' but a December ruling by Italy's Supreme Court provided some legal leeway for the government.
• The European Court of Justice is expected to review the policy in February, which could provide definitive clarity on its legality moving forward.

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