Italy’s agreement to send migrants to Albania while their asylum claims are processed is seen as compatible with EU rules, according to Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised this interpretation, viewing it as support for her immigration policy. Other European countries are observing this situation to consider it as a potential model. The EU court is expected to determine if the scheme complies with EU law, as it is the first such agreement between an EU member and a non-EU country.
The agreement, signed in 2023, faced legal challenges, leading Italian courts to halt the transfer of migrants to Albania over compliance concerns. In 2025, Italy’s Court of Appeal rejected new detention orders, prompting further appeals to the top court, which referred the case to the EU court. Emiliou stated the protocol and related legislation are compatible with EU law, provided migrants’ rights are protected. Meloni anticipates that migrant centers in Albania will be operational by mid-2026 when new EU migration rules take effect. She expressed her views on social media, emphasizing the importance of this decision.
With information from Reuters
