Italy expands Albanian centers into repatriation hubs for rejected asylum seekers

In March 2025, Italy’s far-right-led government approved a new decree to expand the functionalities of migration centers established in Albania. These centers were originally designed for fast-tracking the asylum processing of non-vulnerable migrants rescued at sea. However, under the new decree, they will now also serve as repatriation hubs for migrants who have received deportation orders after their asylum requests were denied in Italy. Due to legal challenges and strong opposition from human rights organizations, these centers have remained largely inactive since their inauguration in October, revealing significant flaws in the execution of Italy's migration policy. The Albanian centers were intended to provide a solution for Italy's increasing migration challenges, but the investment of nearly 800 million euros over five years has proven disappointing for the conservative government led by Giorgia Meloni. Earlier attempts to transfer migrants to these centers in late 2023 resulted in quick returns to Italy after Italian magistrates refused to validate the detentions, casting further doubt on their viability. The newly approved decree aims to improve the functionality of these centers by enabling the transfer of migrants directly from Italy, thus addressing the ongoing struggle with backlogs in asylum processing. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi explained that the decree brings new functions for the centers without altering the core content of the existing agreement with Albania. This adjustment paves the way for the reactivation of the centers, which had initially failed to meet expectations due to legal obstacles. The Italian government’s strategy will now evolve, partially in response to a recently unveiled European Commission proposal, which seeks to establish return hubs in third countries for rejected asylum-seekers as part of a broader rebuilding of the EU's migration and asylum frameworks. The effectiveness of these centers remains uncertain, as it has been reported that only 20% of individuals with deportation orders are actually removed from the EU territory. The proposal to open new return hubs in non-EU countries responds to shifting political pressures within Europe as nations grappling with rising migratory flows seek solutions that comply with human rights standards. The outcome of these efforts may be further influenced by a ruling from the European Court of Justice, anticipated in summer 2025, which could clarify the operations of the Albanian centers and their capacity to accommodate rejected asylum-seekers efficiently.