One year after the Albanian parliament approved the controversial migration agreement with Italy, the reception centers in Shëngjin and Gjadër remain completely empty. What will happen to them?
Normalcy has returned to Gjadër and Shëngjin. Despite the agreement signed between Italy and Albania in November 2023—aimed at processing asylum claims for 36,000 irregular migrants annually—there is not a single migrant in the two purpose-built centers.
Legal and Operational Hurdles
Since its implementation, Italy has transferred only 73 migrants in three separate groups to Albania. However, legal obstacles have hindered the operation. The first group of 16 migrants arrived on October 16, 2024, only to be sent back after an Italian appellate court ruled the transfer unlawful. Subsequent transfers on November 8 and January 28 faced similar legal setbacks, with courts deciding that migrants could not remain in Albania until the European Court of Justice determines the safety of their home countries—a decision expected on February 25.
Observers Withdraw from Albania
Italian officials and NGOs monitoring the centers have now left Albania. Francesco Ferri, a migration policy expert with ActionAid, stated that their coalition had monitored the conditions but has since withdrawn. He emphasized that the transferred migrants were “scared and disoriented,” lacking proper asylum application guidance and facing isolation.
A Billion-Euro Failure?
Italy has reportedly spent around €1 billion on this initiative, drawing criticism from opposition politicians. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s Democratic Party, labeled it a “spectacular failure” and called for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s resignation. Meanwhile, Meloni remains committed to making the agreement work, citing it as a key measure against illegal migration.
Future Uncertainty
With Italy considering repurposing the centers for deportations, opposition and legal challenges remain strong. The Albanian opposition has vowed to terminate the agreement if it wins the May 11 elections. Meanwhile, EU officials are working on new migration policies that could influence future asylum processing in Europe.
For now, the Italy-Albania migration deal appears to be stalled, raising questions about its viability and the broader European approach to asylum policies.
