EU Court Restricts Italy's Fast-Track Migrant Deportations to Safe Countries

The EU's top court has ruled that Italy can fast-track deportations of migrants from countries it designates as 'safe,' but with strict judicial oversight to ensure migrants can challenge these decisions. This ruling challenges Italy's policy under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which involves expedited asylum procedures and detaining migrants in Albania, a strategy aimed at curbing migration but criticized for legal and humanitarian concerns. The court questioned the legitimacy of Italy's 'safe countries' list and emphasized the need for transparency and strict legal standards in its application. Meloni's government expressed surprise and condemned the ruling, arguing it weakens national migration controls and infringes on executive and legislative authority. The decision has sparked legal reevaluation and controversy over the use and cost of Albanian detention centers, which remain largely unused amid ongoing disputes. Overall, the court's judgment poses significant obstacles to Italy's immigration policy, signaling heightened scrutiny of how 'safe' countries are designated and how migrant rights are protected.