The Italian navy has recently transferred 49 migrants to Albania after intercepting them in international waters, which is the latest attempt to implement a controversial agreement aimed at relocating migrants for processing. This initiative follows two previous unsuccessful attempts in October and November when judges in Italy denied the detention of two small migrant groups at specially designated centres in Albania.
The navy ship Cassiopea arrived at the Albanian port of Shengjin early on Tuesday. The migrants will first undergo identification at a facility in Shengjin before being transferred to a detention centre located about 20 kilometers away. Although the Italian Interior Ministry did not disclose the nationalities of the migrants, reports suggest they hail from Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Gambia.
Under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni, the Italian government has established two reception centres in Albania as part of this unprecedented agreement between a European nation and a non-EU country to divert migrants, aiming to manage the number of arrivals by sea. Nevertheless, Italian judges have raised concerns about the legality of this strategy, as previous groups sent to Albania were subsequently returned to Italy.
These legal challenges stem from a ruling by the European Court of Justice from the previous year, which stated that a country cannot be deemed safe if any part of it poses danger. Consequently, Italian courts have determined that the migrants’ home countries do not provide sufficient safety to justify their potential return from processing centres, compromising the government's strategy for repatriation.
Despite facing opposition, some support has emerged for Ms. Meloni's policies. A ruling last December from Italy’s highest court clarified that while judges cannot override government decisions regarding which countries are deemed safe for repatriation, they are permitted to evaluate each case individually. Italian politician Ilaria Salis has condemned the government's actions, stating that innocent individuals fleeing conflict and poverty are being forcibly relocated, which may contravene international law and human rights standards.
So far this year, Italy has seen the arrival of 3,704 migrants, a significant increase from the 1,305 recorded during the same period in the previous year. The European Court is anticipated to review Italy’s relocation plan soon to ensure its alignment with EU regulations.
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