Italy has yet again failed in its attempt to expell migrants on Saturday as its naval ship carrying migrants returned from Albania following a decision by a court in Rome.
According to an AFP report, the Italian coast guard ship had taken 49 people from Italy to Asylum processing centers in Albania’s capital Tirana on Tuesday. Five of them were returned on the same day- four for being minors, and one for being “vulnerable”.
On Friday, an Italian appeals court in Rome refused to approve the speedy expulsion of the 43 asylum-seekers detained in Albania.
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The fate of one final migrant is not clear.
According to Italian media reports, the migrants were from Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Gambia.
This is the third such failed attempt by Italy’s far-right government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In October and November, judges similarly refused to approve the expulsion of groups of migrants seeking clarity from the European court on which countries were safe for repatriation of people.
Last year, Italy signed a five-year deal to process up to 3,000 migrants per month outside EU borders. The agreement is part of Prime Minister Meloni’s plan to curb illegal migration to Italy, which serves as the first entry point for tens of thousands of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean Sea.
The court has referred the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg which is expected to rule on February 25 related to the previous cases.
