Meloni defends his detention centers for migrants in Albania with a decree after Italian judge’s blow

The Ultra government of Giorgia Meloni approved this Monday a decree establishing by law a list of “safe countries” from which immigrants come and thus protecting its controversial detention centers in Albania. The strategy involves creating a list of safe countries, that is, from which an immigrant does not have to flee, with the force of this type of law to be used in moments of “necessity or urgency”. Re-validated by Parliament within 60 days.

This is how Meloni reacted to the Italian judge’s decision to empty the detention center in Albania, where 12 immigrants from Egypt and Bangladesh were staying, and force them to be transferred to Italy, angering the executive.

“This makes it, in our opinion, an a priori rule (…) to offer the application of the law a clear interpretation. I say this with great respect for the judiciary,” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said at a press conference.

At the heart of the issue is the opening of two facilities in the Albanian cities of Shengjin and Gjedar on the other side of the Adriatic Sea – agreed with the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama – to stop migrants arriving in Italy and thus relieve pressure on their host networks. .

Last Wednesday, the first 16 immigrants – from Egypt and Bangladesh – arrived aboard the military ship ‘Libra’, but 4 of them had to be immediately returned to Italy, two because they were minors and two others were considered “vulnerable”.

However, on Friday a Rome court ruled the detention of the remaining 12 immigrants was not legal and ordered them returned to Italy, sparking a sharp clash between the government and judges.

Key to the debate is the consideration of “safe countries”, as the agreement with Albania establishes that only immigrants who come from states where there is no reasonable ration to flee can be deported.

It has been condemned as interference and a violation of the separation of powers not only by Meloni’s party, Italy’s far-right Brothers, but also by two of their coalition partners, Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia.

On the other hand, the Meloni government was condemned in the Court of Auditors on Monday by the opposition 5 Star Movement (M5S) for spending “huge” public funds on sending migrants to its controversial centers in Albania.

judicial shock

Last Friday, Rome court judges did not recognize as legal the detention of 12 people held since Wednesday in migrant identification and repatriation centers set up by Italy in Albania.

It was the first major judicial blow to the Giorgia Meloni government’s plan, as the EU is opening up to replicating the model with the support of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Both facilities opened last week after five months of delays and no-bid contracts worth millions of euros.

The Court’s decision was influenced by a recent decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union according to which a country can only be considered safe if it is actually completely safe. And the concept of a “safe country” is central to the operation of the operational protocol signed by Italy and Albania a year ago for the opening of the centres: only adult males from countries considered safe should be sent there.

The decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union was abolished on 4 October. In fact Several countries including Tunisia, Egypt and Bangladesh from the list. The 16 migrants who were initially taken to Albania – four of whom were returned to Italy hours after landing in Albania, two because they were minors and two because they were deemed “vulnerable” – were Egyptians and Bangladeshis. .

“The refusal to validate detention in Albanian facilities equivalent to Italian border or transit zones is due to the impossibility of recognizing the states of origin of detained persons as ‘safe countries’, with the consequence of the inappropriateness of the border procedure And as provided for in the protocol, the transfer outside Albanian territory of migrants who have the right to be transported to Italy,” Luciana Sangiovanni, president of Section 13 of the Rome Court, which decides on the detention of migrants in the centres, explained in a statement. Not supporting the detention of this first group of. That means the migrants will have to relocate to Italy.

Migrant center built by Italy in Albania

Migrant centers were built

Albania to Italy

One of the key points of the agreement between Italy and Albania, as the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama has reiterated on more than one occasion, was that, under no circumstances, migrants can leave the centers that Albania controls. Considers enclaves under jurisdiction. ,