Meloni's Albania plan makes no progress

Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni faces threats to end ambitious plans to expel Mediterranean refugees from the European Union. Italy once again has to accept migrants from purpose-built refugee camps in Albania, following an order from a court in Rome.

Seven men from Bangladesh and Egypt were taken to the Adriatic port city of Brindisi by a coast guard vessel after being intercepted as they tried to flee to Europe. The judiciary has previously ruled that it is illegal for immigrants to intern outside Italy.

This meant that the plan of the Roman right-wing alliance suffered another serious failure. Meloni came to power two years ago promising a massive curb on irregular migration in the Mediterranean. For leaders of Italy's brotherly parties, the setback is even more serious than last month's initial ruling. At that time, 16 men from the Albanian refugee camp were allowed to travel to Italy. Judges are also now ignoring a new government decree trying to save its project.

Expensive warehouses are empty

Apart from staff, the two new camps in non-EU countries across the Adriatic are now completely empty again. It is unclear whether these expensive facilities, whose operating costs are expected to exceed €500 million by 2029, will remain open. Other European capitals are watching all this closely: Other governments are also considering moving asylum procedures to countries outside the EU. The idea of ​​Britain turning to Rwanda had failed under the previous Conservative government. A similar situation may be unfolding now in Italy.

The decision is currently made by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg. Before that, Italy's highest court, the Supreme Court, is likely to make a ruling in early December. Essentially, the question is which countries are classified as so-called safe countries of origin in asylum proceedings, and who decides. Do national or European laws apply? Meloni believes that establishing a list of safe countries of origin is a sovereign task for the government, not the judiciary. The Italian court has so far referred to another ruling by the European Court of Justice.

Once-lauded judiciary comes under heavy criticism

The dispute has developed into a bitter dispute between the government and the judiciary. The judiciary, from the right-wing three-party coalition, once revered in Italy for its fight against the mafia and corruption, is now insulted as a lackey of the left-wing opposition. “This is another political judgment – not against the government, but against Italians and their security,” said Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who himself faces next month for mistreating refugees in previous years. Risk of jail time.

Salvini himself risks being jailed next month for mistreating refugees in previous years.Image: trapezoid

Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister from the more moderate Forza Italia party, also said: “These are judges who want to impose their political line on the government.” However, courts in other cities outside Rome have also responded accordingly ruling. Meloni was initially noticeably silent after another loss. At Chigi Palace, the seat of government, someone said simply: “We have changed nothing. We will continue.”

Meloni gets encouragement from Elon Musk

Meloni is backed by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has increasingly intervened in European politics following Donald Trump's victory in the US election. “These judges must go,” Musk wrote on his platform

Meloni is backed by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.Image: trapezoid

The seven migrants were intercepted on a boat near Lampedusa last week and then carefully selected. Special care was taken to ensure that these were healthy adult males from countries of origin that were – in Italy’s opinion – safe. All these were the first conditions for their being brought to Albania. This also explains the low number. Five applications had been dismissed on summary proceedings, so the men should actually have been deported – but the judiciary blocked this.

Italy is one of the countries particularly affected by the refugee influx in Europe. Despite the significant drop in numbers, more than 50,000 people are heading there again this year. Under Meloni's plan, Albania would actually approve up to 36,000 asylum applications a year. Human rights activists and the opposition also believe the project's price tag is entirely too high. Italy's Court of Auditors is currently examining whether the fees were appropriate. (Sudanese Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni faces threats to end ambitious plans to expel Mediterranean refugees from the European Union. Italy once again has to accept migrants from purpose-built refugee camps in Albania, following an order from a court in Rome.