When migration policy becomes a costly performance
01 July 2025
Italy's "out-of-the-box" migration hubs in Albania aren't just a total failure, but also cost the Italian taxpayer more than expected. Newly published figures from Follow The Money (FTM) reveal that Italy has spent over €670 million since 2021 on the Albania deal: far higher than the early government estimate of around €200 million.
By comparison, Italy's own migrant hubs cost about €20 million per year and are regularly used – though often criticised for violent and unlawful treatment. The Albanian hubs, designed for 1,000 beds, remain mostly empty due to legal blocks, making the €670 million+ spending shocking and wasteful. As of the first months of 2025, just 36 asylum seekers were transferred: a fraction of the capacity, following repeated legal setbacks.
Italian courts have blocked more than 20 transfers, citing violations of constitutional and EU law. The project, co-financed with €150 million in European funds, is now drawing criticism from experts and opposition politicians, who view it as a costly exercise in political symbolism.
With rising costs – reported to have increased by 12% last year – and minimal impact on arrivals, the deal raises questions about the allocation of public funds. According to the investigation, the hubs were financed through reallocated and emergency funds drawn from several unrelated ministries, including health, education and infrastructure.
Approximately €15 million originally earmarked for healthcare services and €10 million from education budgets were diverted to support the project, alongside emergency funds totalling around €8 million from the ministry of interior.
 | Benedetta Di Placido These funds are essential for public services, but are instead used to prop up Italy's most violent and ineffective migrant pushback project to date. Not only is it failing, but it also directly undermines critical sectors, which are already struggling with inefficiency across most Italian regions. |
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