Italian far-right leader Giorgia Meloni’s flagship ‘return hub’ for Albanian detention centres to take in failed asylum seekers from Italy, has hit an immediate legal hurdle. According to Italy’s own rules for the scheme, only adult men who are not vulnerable and who are from designated safe countries can be sent to the centers. In February 2024, Italy finalised a deal with Albania to transfer up to 36,000 asylum seekers to detention centres in Albania each year. Despite this investment, the opening of the detention centres has been delayed by more than three months. Individuals whose cases fit the criteria for “fast-track asylum procedures” will be transferred to detention centres in Albania.

Source: Libya Today October 22, 2024 07:45 UTC