Italy Transfers 40 Asylum Seekers to Albania Under Controversial Deportation Agreement

In a significant development under Italy’s controversial migrant policy, the Italian government has transferred 40 asylum seekers awaiting deportation to Albania, marking the first major implementation of a bilateral agreement signed in late 2023.

The group of 40 men, reportedly of various nationalities, arrived on Friday aboard an Italian navy ship at the northern Albanian port of Shengjin.

They are now being housed in a newly established detention centre in Gjader — a former military base equipped with high fences, surveillance cameras, and operated entirely by Italian authorities.

These individuals are among the first to be processed under a deal struck between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in November 2023.

The agreement allows Italy to operate offshore detention and processing facilities on Albanian soil for migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Europe.

The two Italian-run centres — opened in October 2024 — are designed to function as offshore holding sites for asylum seekers whose claims are under review or who are facing repatriation after failed applications.

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Under current Italian law, rejected asylum seekers can be detained for up to 18 months while awaiting deportation.

Though details remain sparse regarding how long the 40 asylum seekers will remain in Albania, their relocation is already stirring intense scrutiny across Europe.

Observers say the rest of the European Union is closely monitoring the pilot program, which could serve as a blueprint for managing irregular migration beyond EU borders.

Prime Minister Meloni has defended the initiative as a bold and necessary step to curb illegal migration and ease pressure on Italy’s overwhelmed reception system.

However, critics and human rights organizations have raised concerns over the legality, ethics, and transparency of outsourcing migrant detention to a non-EU country.

Albania’s involvement — seen by some as a gesture of solidarity with Italy and a bid to strengthen its ties with the EU — has also triggered domestic debate, with opposition voices questioning the country’s role in managing Europe’s migration challenges.

As the EU grapples with reforming its common asylum policy, Italy’s offshore detention experiment in Albania could set a precedent with far-reaching implications for regional migration governance and international human rights standards.