The Italy-Albania migration agreement encountered yet another obstacle, as a Rome court ordered the return of migrants transferred to Albania under the controversial deal, Euractiv reported.
On Monday, the Italian Navy rescued 49 migrants at sea and transported them to the Albanian port of Shengjin as part of the bilateral deal. However, on Friday, the Rome Court of Appeal refused to validate their detention, ruling that the migrants must be sent back to Italy. By Saturday, all the remaining migrants had been returned, following the earlier repatriation of six others who were minors or in poor health.
This marks the third judicial block since October 2023, with courts citing breaches of EU law requiring guarantees of a destination country’s safety. A final ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is expected on 25 February.
Political and financial fallout
The collapse intensified tensions within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which faced a separate probe over the repatriation of ICC-indicted Libyan warlord Almasri. Meloni accused judges of “harming the nation.”
If some judges want to govern, they should run for elections and govern.
Opposition leaders, including Democratic Party head Elly Schlein, lambasted the scheme as a “reckless waste” of public funds. Estimates suggest the five-year cost of infrastructure, staffing, and logistics could reach €653.5 million, with critics claiming over €1 billion has already been spent.
Meloni, along with Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, is currently under investigation for the move.
Despite the setbacks, Meloni insists on pursuing the Albania pact, dismissing calls to await the ECJ’s verdict. Meanwhile, no migrant transferred under the scheme has remained in Albania, raising questions about its viability. The absence of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) during screenings further undermined the process.
Meanwhile, Green and Left Alliance leader Nicola Fratoianni warned against Meloni using the setbacks to portray herself as a victim or shift blame onto the judiciary.
The crisis highlights clashes between national migration policies and EU legal frameworks, exposing the risks of populist-driven migration strategies. As Meloni’s government grapples with legal and political turmoil, the pact’s future hinges on a fragile balance between domestic agendas and European obligations.
