European interior ministers reached a political agreement in Brussels on 10 December to tighten asylum and return rules, approving the creation of ‘safe-third-country return hubs’ outside the EU. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately hailed the deal, saying her bilateral protocol with Albania is now becoming ‘standard European practice.’
The EU package—agreed by a coalition of centre-right and far-right parties—extends detention periods, streamlines border procedures and formalises an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin. Crucially for Italy, it provides the legal basis for member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to non-EU partners, provided basic safeguards are met. Italy’s plan to process up to 3,000 migrants per month at two camps near Shëngjin and Gjadër had been stalled by legal challenges; government lawyers now argue the new EU framework removes the main obstacles.
Opposition parties and NGOs warn that outsourcing asylum risks undermining fundamental rights and could expose migrants to indefinite detention. Albania has pledged to apply EU-level standards, but the European Parliament still needs to co-decide on the final legislative texts. Meanwhile, Rome and Tirana are working on facility upgrades, including secure video-link courtrooms so Italian judges can handle appeals remotely.
![EU migration overhaul clears legal path for Italy-Albania offshore processing centres]()
For companies and individuals trying to keep pace with Italy’s evolving immigration environment, VisaHQ can serve as a one-stop resource. Its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers real-time updates on visa categories, documentation checklists and door-to-door application support, helping travellers and HR teams avoid compliance pitfalls as rules tighten.
For global-mobility teams the development matters in two ways. First, it signals a tougher enforcement environment inside Italy: authorities expect faster negative decisions and more expedited removals, which could reduce overstayers but also heighten compliance checks on legitimate assignees. Second, the political momentum behind offshore processing may influence other EU states to emulate Italy, potentially complicating intra-EU posting strategies for third-country nationals.
Legal experts advise companies to ensure posted workers carry complete documentation of status and employment during any travel in or out of Italy. The first transfers to Albania could begin as early as March 2026, subject to parliamentary sign-off.
The EU package—agreed by a coalition of centre-right and far-right parties—extends detention periods, streamlines border procedures and formalises an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin. Crucially for Italy, it provides the legal basis for member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to non-EU partners, provided basic safeguards are met. Italy’s plan to process up to 3,000 migrants per month at two camps near Shëngjin and Gjadër had been stalled by legal challenges; government lawyers now argue the new EU framework removes the main obstacles.
Opposition parties and NGOs warn that outsourcing asylum risks undermining fundamental rights and could expose migrants to indefinite detention. Albania has pledged to apply EU-level standards, but the European Parliament still needs to co-decide on the final legislative texts. Meanwhile, Rome and Tirana are working on facility upgrades, including secure video-link courtrooms so Italian judges can handle appeals remotely.
For companies and individuals trying to keep pace with Italy’s evolving immigration environment, VisaHQ can serve as a one-stop resource. Its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers real-time updates on visa categories, documentation checklists and door-to-door application support, helping travellers and HR teams avoid compliance pitfalls as rules tighten.
For global-mobility teams the development matters in two ways. First, it signals a tougher enforcement environment inside Italy: authorities expect faster negative decisions and more expedited removals, which could reduce overstayers but also heighten compliance checks on legitimate assignees. Second, the political momentum behind offshore processing may influence other EU states to emulate Italy, potentially complicating intra-EU posting strategies for third-country nationals.
Legal experts advise companies to ensure posted workers carry complete documentation of status and employment during any travel in or out of Italy. The first transfers to Albania could begin as early as March 2026, subject to parliamentary sign-off.
