Italy is implementing a controversial initiative to process asylum claims in offshore camps located in Albania, which has faced significant legal challenges and mixed reactions.

Recently, a ship transported eight migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt to Albania, with four sent to Italy due to their minor status or health issues, while twelve were returned to Italy after a court ruling deemed their countries unsafe for repatriation.

As the Italian government navigates these challenges, it faces scrutiny over its approach to managing migration and the implications for human rights.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni criticized the court ruling, arguing that it could undermine the effectiveness of the Albania program.

The Italian government has established a list of 19 countries deemed safe, including Egypt and Bangladesh, to facilitate the transfer of migrants.

The detention centers in Albania, including Gjader, are managed by Italian authorities, with Albanian security forces overseeing the outer perimeter.

Human rights organizations have criticized the arrangement as potentially conflicting with international laws regarding the treatment of migrants.

A court decision regarding the detention of the remaining seven migrants in Albania is expected soon, which could further complicate the processing efforts.

However, judges in Rome have challenged this classification, citing a European Court of Justice ruling that a non-EU country cannot be deemed safe unless its entire territory is free from danger.

Despite the legal pushback, Meloni's government remains committed to the offshore processing project, which has already cost Italy approximately 800 million euros.

The Italian Interior Ministry reported a significant decrease in migrant arrivals via the central Mediterranean route in 2024, with over 57,000 arrivals recorded as of early November.

The ongoing situation raises concerns about the potential erosion of the separation of powers between the government and the judiciary in Italy.