A step that has caused a stir in Europe: on April 11, 2025, Italy transferred rejected asylum seekers to Albania for the first time.

As reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 40 men were brought by naval ship to the port of the northern Albanian city of Shëngjin. Under heavy guard, they were then taken to a newly built reception camp run by Italian authorities.

The camps in Shengjin and Gjader were originally intended to process asylum applications from migrants picked up in the Mediterranean before they even set foot on Italian soil. But according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the project was stalled for months – legal concerns and rulings have so far prevented the plans from being implemented.

Now Giorgia Meloni’s government has changed the legal basis with a new decree. According to the Associated Press, this step allows rejected asylum seekers to be placed on Albanian soil as well. It is part of a bilateral agreement with Albania worth around 800 million euros, which provides for the relocation of up to 3,000 migrants per month. Italy remains responsible for administration, security and accommodation.

The approach has been criticized from several sides. According to Reuters, human rights organizations have complained that it is unclear whether there is a legal basis for the subsequent deportation of these individuals – especially if their stay takes place exclusively on Albanian soil. In previous cases, courts have already ordered returns from Albania to Italy.

Despite these legal uncertainties, the Italian government views the model as a success in the fight against illegal immigration. Whether it can be implemented in the long term, however, remains to be seen – also in view of several ongoing court cases in which the so-called “Albania model” is being put to the test, as reported by the Welt.