Italy’s right-wing government has recently approved a decree that expands the use of Albanian fast-track asylum processing centers to include repatriation hubs, in line with a recent EU proposal. Originally intended for processing non-vulnerable migrants rescued in international waters, two centers in Albania will now also house migrants who arrived in Italy, had their asylum request rejected, and received a deportation order. The Albanian centers have faced legal hurdles and opposition from human rights associations, leading to their limited use since opening in October.
The project, which has cost nearly €800 million over a five-year investment, has been a disappointment for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government. After delays in construction, the first groups of migrants transferred to the Albanian centers in October, November, and January were returned to Italy shortly after arrival due to legal issues. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that the new decree does not significantly change the agreement with Albania, but rather adds new functions to the existing centers, allowing for the transfer of migrants from Italy to reactivate the Gjader center that had remained mostly inactive.
The European Commission proposed the opening of new “return hubs” in third countries for rejected asylum-seekers, aiming to improve the often-delayed deportation process. Only 20% of individuals with a deportation order are effectively removed from EU territory, prompting the need for a standardized approach among all 27 EU member states. The Italian government is hopeful that a ruling by the European Court of Justice expected this summer will enable the Albanian centers to operate as originally intended, aligning with the EU’s migration and asylum pact approved last year.
In a separate decree, Italy also toughened laws on Italian citizenship, limiting automatic citizenship for descendants of Italian emigrants born abroad to only two generations. Only those with at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy can now become citizens from birth, aiming to prevent abuse and commercialization of Italian passports. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani clarified that while many descendants of Italian emigrants will still be able to obtain citizenship, stricter rules have been implemented to manage the increasing number of citizenship applications from abroad.
The number of citizens residing abroad grew significantly from 2014 to 2024, reaching 6.4 million, leading to over 60,000 pending proceedings for citizenship in Italy. The government’s decision to tighten citizenship rules reflects concerns about managing the citizenship process effectively while preventing misuse of Italian nationality. The measures are designed to streamline the citizenship acquisition process, emphasizing a close connection to Italy through direct ancestry for those seeking citizenship from abroad. These changes aim to improve the overall management of citizenship applications and ensure that Italian heritage is preserved and respected.
