Italy’s government has transferred a group of migrants to Albania in defiance of a pending legal challenge at the European level. According to La Repubblica, the group of 15 adults was relocated on June 26, 2025, to the Gjadër detention facility, recently repurposed as a return center.

Supreme Court Questions Legality

Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation had earlier escalated the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), questioning whether the migrant transfers breached EU norms regarding repatriation procedures. Under EU law, such transfers must comply with guarantees for fair treatment and judicial oversight—elements that critics argue are lacking in this bilateral scheme.

Government Justifies Action

Despite the legal uncertainty, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi insisted that Rome remains within its legal bounds. “We are convinced that we are on the right track from the standpoint of European law,” he stated. He also confirmed that additional transfers would follow soon.