Italy’s Far-Right Government Approves New Decree to Overcome Judicial Hurdles

New Decree Shortens List of “Safe” Countries for Migrant Repatriation

Italy’s far-right government has approved a new decree, effective immediately, to overcome judicial hurdles that could derail a controversial migration deal with Albania. The decree shortens the list of countries considered “safe” by law, allowing Rome to repatriate migrants who didn’t win asylum to those countries using a fast-track procedure.

Number of Safe Countries Reduced to 19

The number of safe countries has been reduced to 19 from the previous 22, excluding Cameroon, Colombia, and Nigeria. This move follows a ruling by Rome judges, who rejected the detention of the first 12 migrants sent to a newly-opened reception centre in Albania, citing concerns over the safety of their countries of origin, Bangladesh and Egypt.

Ruling Cites European Court of Justice Ruling

Rome judges motivated their decision, citing a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, which indicates that a country can be deemed safe for migrants’ repatriation only if its entire territory can be considered safe.

Italy-Albania Agreement in Jeopardy

The ruling has put the five-year deal between Italy and Albania, which aims to host 3,000 migrants per month picked up in international waters by the Italian coast guard, in jeopardy. The agreement requires Ireland to vet migrants for possible asylum in Italy or send them back to their countries of origin.

Premier Minister Defends Deal

Italian Premier Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly defended the deal, describing it as a new “model” to handle illegal migration. However, Meloni has also attacked the ruling by Rome magistrates, terming it “prejudicial,” and promised to overcome any judicial obstacles.

Criticism from Human Rights Groups and NGOs

Human rights groups and NGOs active in the Mediterranean have slammed the Italy-Albania agreement, calling it a dangerous precedent in conflict with international laws. Legal experts have also warned that the new decree may not be enough to solve future conflicts, as EU rulings prevail over conflicting national laws.

Interior Minister Rebuffs Criticism

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has rejected the criticism, saying that the new decree is in line with the European Court of Justice’s ruling and in accordance with a new EU regulation that will become effective in 2026.

Conclusion

The new decree approved by the Meloni government has sparked controversy, with critics threatening to derail the Italy-Albania migration deal. While the agreement aims to address the issue of illegal migration, its implementation is being questioned by human rights groups and NGOs.

FAQs

• What is the Italy-Albania migration deal?
  • The deal aims to host 3,000 migrants per month picked up in international waters by the Italian coast guard, to be vetted for possible asylum in Italy or sent back to their countries of origin.
• What is the controversy surrounding the deal?
  • The deal has been criticized by human rights groups and NGOs, who argue that it is a dangerous precedent in conflict with international laws and may lead to the mistreatment of migrants.
• What is the current status of the deal?
  • The deal is currently in jeopardy following a ruling by Rome judges, which rejected the detention of the first 12 migrants sent to a newly-opened reception centre in Albania, citing concerns over the safety of their countries of origin.