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A majority of EU member states have called for the 'full use' of offshore deportation hubs, while Italian MEPs raise concerns over conditions at an Italian-run migrant centre in Albania, citing a lack of transparency and multiple self-harm incidents.
A majority of EU member states have urged the bloc to make "full use" of offshore deportation hubs for migrants without the right to stay, according to a letter organised by the prime ministers of Denmark and Italy. The move comes as Italian lawmakers raise concerns over conditions at an existing offshore migrant processing centre in Albania, where they say they were prevented from conducting a full inspection.
Coverage comparison
The Guardian's reporting highlights two parallel developments in the EU's migration policy. On the one hand, 19 member states, led by Denmark's Mette Frederiksen and Italy's Giorgia Meloni, have signed a letter calling for the establishment of return hubs in non-EU countries "as soon as possible." On the other hand, a delegation of MEPs from the Greens/EFA group says it was denied full access to an Italian-run detention centre in Gjadër, Albania, raising questions about transparency and conditions at the facility.
Key claims
Call for return hubs: A majority of EU member states have called for the "full use" of offshore deportation hubs for migrants with no right to stay. Nineteen member states urged action in setting up return hubs in other countries, according to a letter organised by Denmark's Mette Frederiksen and Italy's Giorgia Meloni. The letter, addressed to heads of EU institutions and EU leaders, calls for support—including financial—for member states to set up such hubs, and asks UN agencies, including the UN refugee agency and the International Organisation for Migration, to engage.
EU regulation on deportations: The EU has agreed on a regulation to speed up deportations of people with no right to stay, a law that also created the possibility for offshore "return hubs." The return hubs would be for people denied asylum in the EU, pending their return to their home country. This model contrasts with Italy's original agreement with Albania, where asylum seekers were meant to be held in the Balkan country while their claims were processed.
Inspection concerns at Gjadër: Italian MEP Cristina Guarda, from Italy's Greens and Left Alliance (AVS), said staff at the Italian-run facility in Gjadër refused to give MEPs from the Greens/EFA group key information, such as how many people were being held at the centre, and denied them access to the cells. Guarda said testimony gathered from those they were able to speak to depicted a daily existence defined by "limbo and alienation."
Self-harm incidents: Citing an official register of "critical events," Guarda said there had been six attempts by people held at the centre to kill themselves since mid-May, as well as other acts of self-harm. She also described "sweltering" heat at the facility. "Whether they want to hide the truth about the conditions of life inside the detention centre, something is not clear," Guarda said.
Management and legal challenges: The centre is managed by the Italian cooperative Medihospes. Italy opened two centres in Albania—in Gjadër and Shëngjin—in 2024 as part of a controversial pact aimed at processing the asylum applications of adult men intercepted at sea by Italian government vessels and detaining refused asylum seekers pending their deportation. The five-year deal, costing Italy an estimated €130-140m (£112-120m) a year, has faced numerous legal challenges. Citing European law, Italian judges have rejected many transfers on the grounds that migrants' countries of origin were unsafe for repatriation.
Rome's prefect office, which has overall responsibility for Italy's offshore migrant processing centres in Albania, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian. Neither did Medihospes.
How this outlet told it
The Guardian — World
Framing: Criticism of Italian government's handling of migrant detention centre — Critical
Facts Included:
Italian MEP Cristina Guarda questioned the Italian government's transparency about conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania
The centre is managed by the Italian cooperative Medihospes
MEPs from the Greens/EFA group were prevented from conducting a full inspection of the centre
There have been six attempts by people held at the centre to kill themselves since mid-May
The centre is part of a controversial pact between Italy and Albania to process asylum applications
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimItalian MEP Cristina Guarda questioned the Italian government's transparency about conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania.