Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News,
The Italian-Albanian agreement for the offshore processing of illegal migrants has been delayed until at least next summer after a Rome court overturned an executive order from the Italian government and referred the case to the European Court of Justice.
Judges in Rome have ordered the return of seven migrants detained in Albania and questioned the Italian government’s authority to designate certain countries of origin as “safe” for repatriation.
Several migrants from Egypt and Bangladesh were taken to a migration center in Albania under a protocol between Rome and Tirana. However, a court decision favored their return to Italy, citing a European Court of Justice ruling on the safety of the countries involved.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tried to bypass the court’s decision by declaring certain countries as “safe” for returns. The Rome court, however, raised concerns about EU law compatibility and referred parts of the case to the European court.
This delay means that deportations via Albanian centers may be on hold until next summer.
While left-wing groups welcomed the ruling, Italian ministers and others criticized the decision.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called it “a political sentence against Italians and their security.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani argued that judicial interference in government decisions “threatens democracy.”
Billionaire Elon Musk also criticized the judges, saying, “These judges need to go.”
Senator Maurizio Gasparri has called for an investigation into the judiciary, alleging political motives.
Judge Silvia Albano, who has faced threats over her stance on migration, condemned political figures for targeting her and her colleagues.
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