Twelve migrants who had been in an Italian asylum seeker center in Albania since October 16 were returned to Italy by boat this Saturday. This decision was taken by Italian judges, invalidating the detention.
Twelve migrants hosted in an asylum seeker center in Albania since October 16 under a controversial agreement with Rome were finally returned to Italy this Saturday.
Initially, 16 men from Bangladesh and Egypt arrived in the Albanian port of Shengjin on Wednesday, almost a year after Rome and Tirana concluded this protocol providing for the creation of two centers in Albania, from where the rescued migrants in the Mediterranean will be able to apply for asylum.
However, shortly after their arrival, four of them were identified as “vulnerable” (two claiming to be minors and two others in need of medical treatment) and were returned to Italy.
For the EU, Egypt and Bangladesh are countries at risk
The remaining 12 asylum seekers boarded an Italian coast guard ship yesterday morning, and were disembarked in the afternoon in Bari, southern Italy, AFP said.
Italian judges from the migration affairs section of the Rome court invalidated their detention, citing a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice on countries of origin considered “safe” by host countries.
For the European Union, Egypt and Bangladesh are countries at risk, but not for Italy. According to the agreement, the centers can only receive migrants from safe countries. European jurisprudence being superior to Italian laws, the 12 asylum seekers therefore returned to Italy with the national navy.
The government of Giorgia Meloni is preparing to study this Monday, in the Council of Ministers, a new decree to comply with European case law.
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