The Italian Navy ship Libra, assigned to monitor Italy’s controversial agreement for Albanian-based migrant centres, will return to the central Mediterranean next week. Sources confirmed the news on Saturday, following recent reports.
The Navy ship Libra, previously docked in Messina, is set to resume operations on Monday or Tuesday to oversee migrant flows and organise further transfers to Albania.
The Libra’s stay in Messina followed a decision by a Rome court, which declined to validate the detention of 12 migrants sent to Albania under the new agreement. The court ruled against their detention in the Gjader centre, stating that Bangladesh and Egypt—their countries of origin—could not be considered safe.
As a result, the 12 migrants had to be brought back to Italy. In response, the government issued a measure establishing a list of 19 safe countries eligible for repatriation, including Bangladesh and Egypt, to address legal obstacles.
Additionally, the Bologna tribunal has called on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify the criteria for Italy’s “safe countries” list, raising questions on the EU’s stance. This move reflects a broader judicial scrutiny regarding the designation of certain countries as safe for migrant return.
Under current plans, the Libra will now monitor the central Mediterranean, and if migrants are picked up, they may be transferred to the Shengjin hotspot in Albania. The deployment aims to support Italy’s efforts to manage migrant flows more effectively.
