Italy-Albania migrant centres protocol (Shengjin and Gjader)
Status: Active; Italy plans to move accelerated procedures to Gjader under the EU Pact (in force June 2026); EU Court of Justice references pending.
Summary
The protocol signed by Meloni and Rama on 6 November 2023 put two Italian-built and Italian-run facilities on Albanian soil: the Shengjin screening hotspot and the Gjader centre. Italian courts repeatedly refused to validate detentions there, citing EU rulings on 'safe countries'. In March 2025 Gjader was turned into a repatriation centre (CPR) for people already held in Italy. The protocol runs five years to 2029 and, per reporting, renews automatically unless the parties decide otherwise. Albania's foreign minister said in May 2026 there would be no extension once Albania joins the EU; Rama replied that the protocol lasts as long as Italy wants it. Reported costs are about EUR 650-670 million over five years, and Amnesty and the Viminale recorded many critical incidents.
Key facts
- Signed 6 Nov 2023 by Meloni and Rama.
- Five-year term, expiring 2029; reported auto-renewal for five-year periods unless the parties decide otherwise.
- Gjader converted to a CPR in March 2025 (decree-law 37).
- Reported cost: about EUR 670m allocated through 2028 (Amnesty figure via L'Espresso); about EUR 650m over five years per ratification law (QuiFinanza); technical report about EUR 653m.
- ActionAid complaint to Corte dei conti put the Gjader cost at EUR 570,400 for a few days of operation in 2024 for 20 people (its own calculation).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- The protocol exists, was signed on 6 Nov 2023 and ratified; the facilities were built and staffed (reported).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCost-effectiveness claims; NGO rights claims.
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationActionAid and Amnesty say the arrangement violates migrants' rights and should end.
- AllegationOpposition Democratic Party (Italy) claims the centres cost Italians nearly one billion (figure cut off in one source).
Open questions (3)
- Final CJEU decision on the Italian references (pending as of August 2026).
- Whether the protocol will be extended beyond 2029 and whether Albania's EU accession changes its extraterritorial status.
- Exact protocol text and renewal clause (not read directly).
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Rama: 'The protocol remains as long as Italy wants it' (social media post, May 2026, via Open and Avvenire). At the Nov 2025 Rome summit he said he would redo the protocol 'a hundred times' with Italy and 'never' with other countries; in an April 2026 Il Giornale interview he called it not replicable (Libero).
Figures
Money trail →Italy: centres funding through 2028 (Amnesty figure)
€670,000,000
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Reported allocation through 2028; QuiFinanza and ratification law cite about EUR 650m over 5 years; technical report about EUR 653m. Figures differ by definition.
Date: Aug 2026 · Payer: Italian state · Payee: Albanian facilities (Shengjin, Gjader)
- L'Espresso: Amnesty report on Albania centres (EUR 670m allocated through 2028; EUR 74m spent on construction) (opens in a new tab)L'Espresso · Aug 2026 · journalism · OTHER
- QuiFinanza: Albania centres, EUR 650m allocated but no results (Meloni meets Rama) (opens in a new tab)QuiFinanza · undated · journalism · OTHER
Gjader centre: cost for a few days of operation in 2024 (ActionAid calculation)
€570,400
paymentSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: ActionAid's own calculation for 20 people, filed with Corte dei conti; not an official figure.
Date: 2024 · Payer: Italian state · Payee: Gjader centre operations
- QuiFinanza: Albania centres, EUR 650m allocated but no results (Meloni meets Rama) (opens in a new tab)QuiFinanza · undated · journalism · OTHER
Construction spent so far (Amnesty figure)
€74,000,000
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Reported spend on construction as of 2026; source Amnesty via L'Espresso.
Date: Aug 2026 · Payer: Italian state · Payee: Construction contractors
- L'Espresso: Amnesty report on Albania centres (EUR 670m allocated through 2028; EUR 74m spent on construction) (opens in a new tab)L'Espresso · Aug 2026 · journalism · OTHER
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
Meloni and Rama sign the Italy-Albania migrant protocol
Protocol for Shengjin hotspot and Gjader centre, five-year term to 2029.
Government
Italy converts Gjader into a repatriation centre (decree-law 37)
Gjader becomes a CPR for people already held in Italy after courts blocked hub-style detentions (month only, day not confirmed).
International
Italy-Albania intergovernmental summit in Rome; Meloni hails 'Albania model'
Package of agreements on migration, infrastructure and defence signed; Meloni said Albania already behaves like a European state; Rama said he would redo the migrant protocol 'a hundred times' with Italy.
International
EU Advocate General (Emiliou) finds Italy-Albania setup compatible with EU law, subject to safeguards
Non-binding opinion for the Court of Justice (per Open).
Government
Foreign minister Hoxha: no extension of Italy protocol after EU accession; Rama: lasts as long as Italy wants
Hoxha later says 'thinking out loud'. Rama posts that the protocol stays as long as Italy wants.
International
Second Advocate General (Medina): agreement text lacks clear rights guarantees
Opinion for the Rome Court of Appeal references (per eunews).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 10 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 10 sources
- Publisher
- L'Espresso
- Date
- Aug 2026
- Publisher
- L'Espresso
- Date
- 12 May 2026
- Publisher
- Avvenire
- Date
- 13 May 2026
- Publisher
- Open
- Date
- 12 May 2026
- Publisher
- Open
- Date
- 23 Apr 2026
- Publisher
- eunews
- Date
- 11 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- QuiFinanza
- Date
- undated
- Publisher
- Adnkronos
- Date
- 13 Nov 2025
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 13 Nov 2025
- Publisher
- Panorama
- Date
- Nov 2025