This policy study examines the Italy-Albania Migration Protocol, an agreement facilitating the establishment of migration centers in Albania to process asylum seekers and irregular migrants intercepted en route to Italy. Signed in November 2023, the Protocol represents a broader trend of migration management externalization, sparking considerable legal, political, and humanitarian concerns.

This study highlights the legal, constitutional, and humanitarian implications of the Protocol, assessing its potential impact on Albania’s EU aspirations and its broader significance.