In brief
Italian judges have thwarted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's initiative to process asylum seekers in Albania for the third time, as a court of appeals in Rome ruled against holding migrants offshore pending an EU review next month. This setback comes as migrants are being transported under this controversial plan to expedite their asylum claims. Critics, including human rights organizations and opposition parties, denounce the policy both for its legality and financial implications.
Italian Navy ships have transported 43 migrants to Albania, but following the judges’ ruling, they will now be brought back to Italy. The plan was intended to deter dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean, focusing on “non-vulnerable” men from “safe countries,” while women and minors are permitted entry into Italy. The government's initiative, however, has faced widespread condemnation, illustrating the ongoing tension between immigration policy and human rights in Italy.
