ROME — Italy’s government, led by a far-right coalition, has sanctioned a new decree expanding the role of fast-track centers in Albania to function as repatriation facilities. This decision aligns with a recent proposal from the European Union. Under this fresh decree announced on Friday, the two Albanian centers, initially designed to process migrants rescued at sea who aren’t considered vulnerable, will now also accommodate migrants sent from Italy who have been denied asylum and face deportation orders.
In a separate decision, the government has made obtaining Italian citizenship more stringent. Although these Albanian asylum centers opened back in October, they have seen little activity due to legal complexities and strong objections from human rights organizations. Critics argue that these centers violate international regulations and jeopardize the rights of migrants.
The initiative, costing nearly 800 million euros over a five-year period, was intended to streamline asylum processing but has been a setback for the ruling conservative government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni. Delays in construction meant that the first few groups of migrants sent there last year were promptly returned to Italy because Italian judges ruled against detaining them in a non-EU nation. However, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated during a news conference on Friday that the new decree modifies the terms of the existing agreement with Albania but primarily adds new capabilities for the centers.
“The decree amends the law underlying our protocol with Albania; it doesn’t change the core content but allows for transferring migrants from Italy to the already established (repatriation) center in Gjader,” Piantedosi mentioned. This would re-enable functions at the center, preventing it from falling into disuse, he added.
This development presents Premier Meloni with a chance to rejuvenate the underutilized Albanian facilities, following the European Commission’s proposal in March to establish new “return hubs” in third countries for rejected asylum-seekers. The Commission has reported that only 20% of deportation orders are enforced across the EU. Its “European System for Returns” offers a potential workaround, setting a standard across all 27 EU states and enabling one country’s authorities to enforce another country’s deportation orders. Such provisions were missing from the EU’s recently approved migration pact.
The Italian government is also anticipating a ruling from the European Court of Justice, expected later this year, which might allow the Albanian centers to fulfill their original purpose.
Alongside the changes regarding the asylum centers, Italy’s government has revised its citizenship laws. According to the updated regulations, Italian descendants born overseas will only automatically inherit citizenship for up to two generations. Those eligible must have at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy to be citizens by birth. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani emphasized that while many descendants of Italian emigrants can still attain citizenship, these adjustments would minimize misuse and the “commercialization” of Italian citizenship.
Over the past decade, the number of Italian citizens living abroad has surged from approximately 4.6 million to 6.4 million, marking a 40% increase. Italy currently deals with over 60,000 pending citizenship applications.