Amnesty International has called on the EU to end asylum outsourcing, criticizing Italy's deal with Albania and the use of 'safe country' concepts to expedite deportations.
Key facts
- •Amnesty International claims the EU’s 'safe country' concept inherently jeopardizes human rights by limiting access to territorial asylum.
- •The European Commission’s list of safe countries includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, Tunisia, and several EU candidate nations.
- •Italy’s €680 million deal with Albania resulted in 74 transfers from international waters between October 2024 and January 2025.
- •Amnesty reported at least two attempted hangings and various self-harm incidents at Italian migration facilities between April and May of last year.
- •New EU asylum rules that entered into force in June allow member states to designate territorial safe zones.
Amnesty International is calling for the European Union to halt the practice of outsourcing asylum procedures. The organization’s latest report criticizes Italy’s controversial agreement with Albania, which aims to fast-track the deportation of individuals from countries designated as 'safe.' Despite these objections, the European Commission is encouraging member states to adopt similar measures to prevent asylum claims from being processed within Europe.
By the numbers
EU Strategy on Safe Countries
EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner has urged member states to utilize 'safe country' concepts to conduct asylum procedures outside the EU. Brunner pointed to Spain’s handling of arrivals in Ceuta as an example of how these rules can facilitate rapid deportations. The Commission has established a list of 'safe countries of origin' that includes nations such as Egypt, India, Morocco, and Turkey, as well as several EU candidate countries.
Italy’s Albania Agreement
Italy’s five-year, €680 million deal with Albania faced significant legal hurdles after Italian courts intervened. Between October 2024 and January 2025, only 74 people were transferred to Albania before the process was halted. Following these rulings, Italy repurposed its facilities in Gjadër to detain failed asylum seekers awaiting deportation. Amnesty International has accused Italy of using authoritarian practices to bypass judicial accountability and highlighted reports of self-harm and attempted hangings at migration facilities between April and May of last year.
Legal and Political Context
The European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the safe origin country concept was Alessandro Ciriani, an Italian MEP from the Brothers of Italy party. While the European Commission has amended rules to allow for territorial safe zones, Amnesty International maintains that national authorities do not have blanket power to force returns, citing the judicial protections provided by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Timeline
- April and May last yearAmnesty recorded at least two attempted hangings and various self-harm incidents at Italian migration facilities.
- JuneNew EU asylum rules allowing for territorial safe zones entered into force.
- October 2024 to January 2025Italy transferred 74 people from international waters to Albania before court rulings halted the process.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by EUobserver.
