Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly criticized the European Court of Justice (ECJ) following its recent ruling that challenges her government’s controversial migration plan involving Albania.
The ruling targets a central feature of Meloni’s migration policy: the 2023 bilateral agreement with Albania to establish Italian-run processing centres in the towns of Gjadër and Shëngjin. These centres were intended to fast-track asylum claims of migrants deemed unlikely to qualify—particularly those from countries classified by Italy as “safe.”
ECJ Ruling: Government Decisions Must Be Transparent and Reviewable
On Friday, the ECJ affirmed that while EU member states can declare third countries as “safe” for the purpose of rejecting asylum applications, those declarations must meet strict criteria. Notably, the court emphasized that:
- The criteria used to deem a country safe must be objective and transparent.
- Governments must publicly justify such decisions.
- The designation must be subject to effective judicial review.
The ruling stemmed from a case involving two Bangladeshi nationals whose asylum applications were rejected in Albania after Italy designated Bangladesh a safe country in 2024. The applicants challenged the basis of that designation, arguing that there was no justification provided nor any legal path to appeal it.
Meloni Government’s Response: Warning of Judicial Overreach
Meloni’s office condemned the ruling, accusing the ECJ of overstepping its authority and interfering in matters that should remain under national jurisdiction. A statement from her office declared:
“The court’s decision weakens policies to combat mass illegal immigration and defend national borders… It undermines the autonomy of government and parliament by giving precedence to judicial views over comprehensive ministerial evaluations.”
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini went further, calling the verdict “scandalous” and asserting it was “yet another demonstration of a Europe that doesn’t work.”
Domestic and Legal Implications
The ECJ ruling amplifies pressure on Meloni’s migration policy, which has already faced repeated setbacks in Italian courts. Judges have questioned the legality and humanitarian impact of relocating migrants to Albania, especially given the limited legal safeguards and prison-like conditions in those facilities.
Italian courts had halted the scheme earlier this year, demanding greater clarity on how countries like Egypt and Bangladesh were classified as “safe.” The ECJ ruling now backs those courts’ insistence on due process and rights-based criteria.
Opposition Response: “Policy Failure and Mismanagement”
Meloni’s political opponents seized on the ruling to criticize the government’s migration strategy. Matteo Orfini of the Democratic Party labeled the Albania plan a “regulatory abuse” and accused the government of wasting nearly €1 billion in public funds.
The Five Star Movement echoed those concerns, accusing Meloni of managing immigration policy with “ignorance, improvisation, and empty slogans.”
Continued Use of Albania Facilities
Despite the legal controversy, the Italian government continues to use the Albanian facilities to house migrants who have already been denied asylum and are awaiting repatriation. Meloni remains committed to reviving the scheme, insisting it is key to deterring irregular Mediterranean crossings.
Broader Context
Meloni’s push for offshoring asylum processing mirrors similar policies floated across Europe to reduce domestic migration pressures. However, the ECJ ruling underscores the EU’s insistence on maintaining minimum standards of transparency, accountability, and human rights—no matter the domestic political aims.
