Centres had been open for over a month but received just 24 asylum seekers, whose detention was deemed unlawful
Italy’s Albanian Migrant Centres: A Costly Political Mirage
The Failure of Albanian Migrant Centres: Empty Promises
Italy’s government’s migrant centre project in Albania has unravelled spectacularly. Designed to house up to 3,000 asylum seekers monthly, the multimillion-euro Albanian Migrant Centres have remained virtually unused since their October 11th opening. Only 24 asylum seekers have been processed, with most stays lasting less than 48 hours.
Judicial Roadblocks and Financial Fallout
European judges dealt a critical blow to the project, ruling that Albania cannot be considered a universally “safe” country for detaining migrants. Italian judges consistently deemed the detentions unlawful, forcing the return of asylum seekers to Italy.
The financial impact is staggering: approximately €1 billion earmarked over five years for a project that has accomplished little more than sending Italian personnel home.
Political Embarrassment and Public Criticism
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s signature immigration strategy has become a political embarrassment. The transport of just eight men on a military ship cost €250,000 – over €31,000 per asylum seeker. Opposition politicians have condemned the initiative as an “epochal failure”, highlighting the irony of Italian operators being the primary “migrants” returned home.
The Albanian Migrant Centres stand as a testament to a costly, politically-driven migration strategy that has spectacularly failed to achieve its intended goals.
