EU court adviser backs Italy-Albania migrant plan, if rights are protected

An adviser to the European Union’s top court has said Italy’s plan to transfer migrants to Albania complies with EU rules, provided migrants’ rights are fully protected. The non-binding opinion lands as the arrangement faces legal tests and as other European governments weigh whether to adopt similar approaches.

The strategy, implemented by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has drawn court challenges in Italy. Italian judges have demanded the return of migrants from Albania, citing rule violations. Meloni has cast the adviser’s view as a validation of her immigration policy and argued that earlier judicial decisions hindered Italy’s migration agenda.

The adviser, an Advocate General to the EU court, stressed that such opinions do not bind the judges, though they frequently influence final rulings. The EU’s top court is expected to deliberate on the matter soon. The case will be closely watched across Europe, where interest in the Italy-Albania model has grown.

For now, the court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether the plan can proceed under EU law and on what terms, particularly regarding protections for migrants’ rights.