A year after Albania’s parliament ratified a controversial migration deal with Italy, the two camps built in the towns of Shëngjin and Gjadër remain empty. What happens next?
A Deal in Limbo
In the northwestern Albanian village of Gjadër and the port town of Shëngjin, life has returned to normal. The migration centers, established under a contentious agreement signed by Italy and Albania in November 2023 and ratified by Albania’s parliament on February 22, 2024, stand vacant.
The deal envisioned Italy constructing and operating reception centers in Albania to host up to 36,000 migrants annually while their asylum applications were processed. However, the project has encountered legal and logistical obstacles, leaving its future uncertain.
A Series of Setbacks for Italy
Since the agreement took effect, only around 70 migrants—primarily from Africa and South Asia—have been transferred to Albania in three separate groups.
The first group of 16 migrants arrived on October 16, 2024, but was swiftly sent back to Italy after a Rome court ruled their transfer was unlawful, citing potential violations of international protections against forced repatriation.
Two subsequent transfers followed: one group of eight migrants on November 8 and another 49 migrants on January 28. In both instances, the Rome Court of Appeal ruled that the migrants could not be held in Albania until the European Court of Justice (ECJ) determined whether their countries of origin qualified as safe for repatriation.
The ECJ has been deliberating the issue since February 25, with a verdict expected in the coming months.
Observers Withdraw from Albania
Meanwhile, Italian officials and NGO representatives monitoring the situation in Albania have left the country indefinitely.
Francesco Ferri, a migration expert with ActionAid, was part of a delegation that assessed the conditions in the Albanian camps.
“The Tavolo Asilo e Immigrazione [a national coalition of Italian NGOs and civil society groups advocating migrant rights] conducted monitoring missions in Albania,” Ferri told DW. “We are no longer present on the ground, but we continue to closely observe the situation and remain ready to return if necessary.”
“Frightened, Confused, and Disoriented”
All 73 migrants transferred to Albania had attempted to reach Italy or Malta by boat from Libya. According to Ferri, they feared being sent back to their home countries.
“We encountered individuals who were frightened, confused, and disoriented,” he said. “They were unaware of the legal procedures, unprepared to apply for asylum, and placed in conditions of isolation. This situation clearly demonstrates that the Albanian model results in systemic human rights violations.”
Italy Considers Repurposing the Camps
According to the InfoMigrants website, the Italian government is now evaluating alternative uses for the migration centers, including converting them into repatriation facilities.
However, this proposal faces resistance. Ferri strongly opposes the idea.
“It must be completely rejected,” he emphasized, warning that such a move would lead to further human rights violations. “The risk of institutionalizing and expanding these facilities is real, especially if this outsourcing model is replicated elsewhere. Given the current outcomes, closing these centers permanently is the only viable solution.”
“A Resounding Failure”
From the outset, Italy’s opposition parties and migration experts criticized the deal, calling it an abuse of human rights and a waste of resources.
With a €1 billion ($1.04 billion) price tag, the project has failed to produce results. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, labeled it a “resounding failure” and urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to resign, arguing that the migration center model in Albania was doomed from the start.
Ferri concurs, stating that “very few people were transferred, and even they were swiftly returned to Italy.”
“The centers were mostly empty throughout the year, and when operational, they accommodated only a small number of individuals. Legal challenges, logistical difficulties, and political opposition have obstructed implementation,” he concluded.
Meloni Remains Committed
DW reached out to the Italian government for an assessment of the deal’s progress and its potential repurposing but received no response before publication.
However, speaking at a mid-February event attended by senior police officials, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated her commitment to making the deal work.
“We are determined to overcome any obstacle,” Meloni said, adding that “Italian citizens demand their government stop illegal migration, which fuels insecurity.”
In Albania, the agreement remains a contentious political issue. The opposition Democratic Party has vowed to terminate the deal if it wins parliamentary elections on May 11.
A Test Case for Europe?
The deal has broader implications beyond Italy and Albania.
In mid-February, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner met with Meloni to discuss the potential adoption of a new “safe country of origin” framework.
Before traveling to Italy, Brunner told Italian media that the European Commission was working on a “highly ambitious” migration repatriation package, which includes “clear obligations for deportations,” “strict measures for individuals deemed security threats,” and a “more coordinated” regulatory framework at the EU level.
Ferri remains deeply concerned.
“There is a real risk that European governments will continue to explore outsourcing solutions, shifting responsibility for asylum protection outside EU borders,” he warned. / BV & DW
