Italy has announced a list of 19 countries it considers safe for migrants, aiming to save a €670 million asylum processing plan involving Albania. The government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, declared this decision after an emergency cabinet meeting, where it confirmed that these 19 nations, including Bangladesh, Ghana, and Egypt, were safe for repatriation. This move follows legal challenges to the project, which seeks to divert migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to Albania.
Initially, 22 countries were proposed, but three—Cameroon, Colombia, and Nigeria—were excluded due to safety concerns in parts of their territories. This change comes after a Rome court ruled that migrants cannot be returned to nations that are not fully safe, referencing a decision by the European Court of Justice. These legal obstacles have drawn comparisons to the UK’s struggles with its Rwanda migrant plan, which was ultimately scrapped by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Despite the setbacks, Italy is pressing forward with its Albania scheme. Under this plan, migrants will be taken to northern Albania, where their asylum requests will be fast-tracked. Economic migrants will be returned to their home countries. The project is a significant part of Ms. Meloni’s promise to curb migration, particularly from North Africa, where tens of thousands of migrants attempt to reach Italy each year.
However, legal challenges persist. Italian courts may challenge the new law, and it’s uncertain whether European Court rulings will override the national legislation. Some experts doubt the effectiveness of Italy’s strategy, suggesting the European Union’s laws may prevail over Italy’s new measures. Nevertheless, Italy remains committed to defending its borders and addressing the migrant crisis.
The plan is being closely watched by other European countries, including the UK, as it could serve as a model for managing migration flows. However, the Albanian facilities are currently empty due to court interventions, raising questions about the future success of the scheme.
In 2023, more than 150,000 asylum seekers arrived in Italy, with many crossing the Mediterranean from Libya and Tunisia. Ms. Meloni vowed to stop these crossings when she was elected, and this latest effort is part of her continued commitment to regulating Italy’s borders.