Italy has resumed its controversial policy of transferring unwanted migrants to Albania after a two-month pause. Recently, 49 individuals, primarily from Egypt and Bangladesh, were sent aboard the navy ship Cassiopea to Shengjin port. This move comes as Italy's Interior Ministry stipulates that only adult males in good mental and physical health from designated safe countries qualify for transfer. A total of 53 other migrants managed to avoid deportation by demonstrating their nationality.
Upon arrival in Albania, migrants are processed at Shengjin before being transferred to the Gjader detention center. The Italian government, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has implemented a new decree aimed at expediting the transfer process and overcoming previous judicial hurdles. This decree, known as the 'decreto flussi,' has faced criticism from human rights organizations and has been challenged in court.
Italy's Supreme Court has previously ruled that the use of a safe countries list is legal, providing a foundation for the current policy. The European Court of Justice has also established that asylum applications cannot be expedited from countries not deemed wholly safe.
With 1,750 migrant arrivals recorded in January alone, significantly higher than the previous year, the renewed policy reflects Italy's ongoing struggles with migration management. The government's agreement with Albanian officials continues to be a focal point of debate, balancing national security interests against humanitarian concerns.
