Meloni rushes to pass new law to save Albania migration transfer policy

Move by Italy’s PM comes after ruling by a Rome court to return 12 asylum seekers being held in Gjadër hub

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said her government is working to immediately pass a new law to overcome a court ruling that risks blocking the country’s multimillion-dollar deal with Albania aimed at curbing migrant arrivals.

On Friday, a court in Rome ruled to transfer back to Italy the last 12 asylum seekers being held in the new Italian migration hub in Albania. The ruling has cast doubt on the feasibility and legality of plans by the EU to explore ways to establish migrant processing and detention centres outside the bloc as part of a new hardline approach to migration.