Meloni aims to relaunch Albania centers, possibly opening repatriation facilities

Rome: Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni wants to find a solution for Italian-run migrant centres in Albania before a decision of the European Court of Justice.

Premier Giorgia Meloni is considering plans to repurpose two controversial Italian-run centers in Albania to keep them operational after Italy’s courts blocked the implementation of a protocol between Rome and Tirana for the fast-track processing of asylum seekers.

The goal is to revive the centers, which remain empty after Italian courts refused to validate the detention of the first three groups of migrants sent there in October, November, and January. Meloni has reaffirmed her commitment to the original plan and is seeking a solution ahead of a ruling by the European Court of Justice, according to well-informed sources.

Among the possible solutions under consideration, the two centers in Shengjin and Gjader, located on Albania’s coast, could be converted into repatriation facilities. Following an initial debate on February 7 after a cabinet meeting, discussions between Premier Giorgia Meloni, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano have led officials to explore alternative strategies. A meeting reportedly took place at Palazzo Chigi on February 10, with more expected this week, while Meloni also discussed migration with Austria’s new Chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg.

This strategic shift in the “Albania model” is unfolding within a broader European context that the Italian government considers being in favor of the plan. Meloni and Piantedosi have emphasized Brussels’ interest in the Italian approach, which they believe could serve as a blueprint for similar EU initiatives. Notably, during recent meetings with European counterparts, Piantedosi advocated for a more substantial and expedited reform of the repatriation directive, “providing for mechanisms of regionalization to transfer illegal migrants to neighbouring countries when it is not possible to readmit them to the countries of origin”.

Several hypotheses are being considered for the centers in Albania, with the objective of bypassing courts which have so far failed to validate the detention of migrants, avoiding an outright clash.

Experts at the premier’s office, Palazzo Chigi, the interior ministry and the other ministries involved are believed to be considering possible options for the two centers in Shengjin and Gjader.

At the moment, no decisions have been taken on how to possibly implement new measures, whether through a decree, a bill or an amendment to legislation being debated in parliament, sources said.

The ongoing debate is believed to be focusing in particular on the possibility of changing the format of the two centers in Albania, transforming them into repatriation facilities. In this way, the structures would not host migrants rescued by Navy ships in international waters in the Mediterranean but would house irregular migrants who are already in Italy and against whom Italian authorities have issued an expulsion decree.

In this way, judges would not need to validate the migrants’ detention at the facilities, as is required for asylum seekers. One of the issues on the table could be the need to review the protocol between Rome and Tirana, with the revised agreement needing a new green light from parliament – a move that would delay the plan.

“We are moving forward, we will not abandon the job in Albania”, said Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said “We shall see” when asked to comment on the idea of transforming the facilities in Albania into CPRs, a plan rejected by the center-left opposition.