Italy to resume controversial Albania migrant transfer

Italy is once again preparing to transfer migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Albania, despite previous attempts meeting legal challenges.

The Italian navy ship Cassiopeia is on patrol in the waters south of Lampedusa island, with the aim of taking migrants on board and then transferring them to Italian centres in Albania, the news agency ANSA reported on Saturday.

The right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly intends to resume its plan to decide on asylum applications in Italian camps located in the non-EU country of Albania – despite a pending decision by the European Court of Justice on the practice.

Since the beginning of January, around 1750 migrants have arrived in Italy, significantly more than in the same period last year, which saw just under 1300 arrivals.

Almost 500 people reportedly arrived on January 20 alone.

The plan is to proceed in the same manner as last year: patrol boats from the coastguard or police are to intercept boats with migrants in international waters en route to Italy.

Should the migrants meet the criteria sought by Italy – male, adult, healthy and from so-called safe countries – the ship Cassiopeia is to take them to Albania.

Italian judges overturned twice last year the detention of migrants in two camps in Albania, pointing out that the migrants did not originate from safe countries to which they could be returned.

In December, however, there was a decision by the Supreme Court, on which the government now appears to be relying.

According to this decision, the government is allowed to introduce a differentiated regulation for asylum applications of people from countries deemed safe.

However, judges could assess on a case-by-case basis whether the classification is lawful.

A decision by the European Court of Justice, which could come in February, may provide more clarity on the matter.