Borders Beyond Borders: The Italy–Albania Protocol and the Paradoxes of EU Migration Externalization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18357/big_r71202522507Keywords:
Asylum, Italy, Albania, Migration, PolicyAbstract
This policy report examines the Strengthening Cooperation in Migration Matters Protocol between Italy and Albania signed in November 2023. The agreement establishes two detention centers in Albania, at Shëngjin and Gjadër, under Italian jurisdiction. While presented as an innovative tool for migration management, the protocol raises major concerns over compliance with EU and international law, as well as human rights standards.
This analysis highlights two key issues within the broader complexity of classifying mixed migratory flows and navigating international legal frameworks: the EU’s ambiguous stance on bilateral externalization initiatives, and the persistence of failing forward approaches that weaken institutional credibility. The report argues that this trajectory undermines both EU solidarity and the ongoing reforms of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
Finally, it outlines alternative pathways: frameworks that engage EU institutions, member states, and migrants themselves; responses that address structural drivers such as conflict and inequality; and counter-narratives that elevate migrant voices. Taken together, these perspectives point toward a more ethical and effective model of migration governance.
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