This approach aims to relocate migrants to Albania, where their asylum applications can be handled, thereby reducing the burden on Italy's resources.

The situation has been exacerbated by a recent case involving a man from Bangladesh, who, along with 15 other migrants, was rescued from a boat and had his asylum application rejected within 24 hours in Albania.

Critics of the safety designations have drawn historical parallels to Nazi Germany, highlighting concerns that such classifications may exclude vulnerable groups from protection.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is advocating for a new immigration strategy known as the 'Albania model,' which proposes processing asylum applications for migrants in Albania to alleviate pressure on Italy's asylum system.

However, Meloni's government faces significant legal challenges regarding this plan, particularly concerning the safety of returning migrants to countries like Albania.

A recent ruling from a court in Rome mandated that all migrants be returned to Italy, citing EU law that neither Bangladesh nor Egypt is considered a completely safe country for migrants.

This ruling underscores the EU's prohibition against returning migrants to countries deemed unsafe, complicating Meloni's proposed strategy.

In response to these challenges, Meloni's administration has introduced a new decree that centralizes the determination of safe countries, moving it from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the government.

The Bologna court has requested the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to review this new decree, which includes a controversial list of 19 countries classified as 'safe' for migrants.

The developments surrounding Meloni's immigration strategy could have significant implications for European asylum policies and may reignite discussions about processing asylum applications outside the EU.

Other EU member states and the European Commission are closely monitoring Meloni's approach, emphasizing that any measures must comply with EU law.

The plans to establish refugee camps for Mediterranean migrants in Albania are now under scrutiny by the European Court of Justice, reflecting the contentious nature of classifying safe countries within the EU.