Italy approves new decree to use Albania migration centres as repatriation hubs

Italy's right-wing government has approved a decree that expands the use of Albanian fast-track asylum processing centres to include repatriation hubs, in line with a recent EU proposal.

Under the new decree, two centres in Albania that were originally intended for processing non-vulnerable migrants rescued in international waters will now also house migrants who arrived in Italy, had their asylum request rejected and received a deportation order.

The Albanian centres have remained largely inactive since their opening in October, due to legal hurdles and amid wide opposition from human rights associations, which believe they violate international laws and put migrants' rights at risk.

The project, which has cost nearly €800 million over a five-year investment, has been a disappointment for the conservative government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

After longer than expected construction work, the first three groups of migrants transferred there in October, November and January were sent back to Italy only a few hours later, after Italian magistrates refused to validate their detention in the non-EU country.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said in a news conference on Friday that the new decree didn’t change the bulk of the agreement with Albania, but added new functions for the centres.

"The decree changes the law that ratifies the protocol with Albania, but doesn't change its content, making it possible to transfer to the already existing centre of Gjader also migrants coming from Italy," Piantedosi explained.

"That would allow us to immediately reactivate that centre so that it won’t lose its functions."

The Italian move, which offers Meloni a new opportunity to relaunch the costly project, follows a European