Migration over the Mediterranean: Meloni has “Albania model” revised

After several defeats, Italy’s rights Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has her “Albania model” revised to quickly deport Mediterranean refugees. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed reports in the parliament that migrants in the non-EU-Land Albania could in future be housed in the future, the asylum applications of which have already been rejected on Italian soil.

The two camps are currently empty – much to the government’s annoyance. Since the opening in autumn, men had only been interned there for a few days who had been stopped by the Italian coast guard on the high seas while fleeing over the Mediterranean. Actually, Italian officials in Albania are to be quickly decided on asylum applications and then deported. So far, however, the model has never worked.

Plans have been stopped three times from the judiciary

The judiciary in Rome has stopped the government’s plans three times since October. As a result, all 66 men who were set in Albania had to be brought to Italy. Italy is the only country of the European Union that operates such camps outside the EU. However, other European governments attentively pursue the plans. On February 25, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will deal with the model for the first time. So far there is no date for the judgment.

Cost of more than 650 million euros

Pianededosi now confirmed for the first time in the Chamber of MPs that the government is working on “solutions to overcome the previously occurred obstacles”. In the camps in Shengjin and Gjader there are also opportunities for “return custody”. However, there are resistance to such considerations in Albania.

The costs for the construction and operation of the camps are estimated at more than 650 million euros. In principle, there is space for more than 1,200 migrants. For the camps, the government only has adult men selected who, in their view, come from safe countries of origin. Women and children are not brought there.

There is now a violent dispute between the government and the judiciary. In essence, it is about who can determine whether another state is a safe country of origin. Italy is one of the countries that are particularly affected by the escape movement over the Mediterranean. Last year around 66,500 new arrivals were registered, less than half as much as 2023. People keep living at the dangerous crossing.