The Italian government has approved a decree that contains new measures for the Gjader migrant repatriation center in Albania and restricted citizenship by descent.

The Italian migrant facilities in the Albanian town of Gjader will be expanded to 144 posts and will also be used to host irregular migrants transferred directly from Italy, becoming part of the national migrant repatriation centers (CPR) network.

However, its original function for fast-track border procedures prior to repatriation has yet to be reactivated, as there is the need to wait for the next moves of international judges prior to resuming.

The center in Albania meanwhile is being transformed and expanded as part of the cabinet decision on March 28 while awaiting the decision of the European Court of Justice on the issue of migrant detention and indications regarding safe countries: this issue has for months been at the center of polemics and tensions after rulings by Italian judges that have thus far rejected the government's plans in terms of fast-track procedures.

Another key measure included in the cabinet decision is a restriction of Jus Sanguinis, the possibility for those who have an Italian ancestor but were born elsewhere in the world to get citizenship. From now on, only those who have a parent or grandparent born in Italy will be automatically considered Italian citizens.

Interior minister orders 'immediate reactivation' of Gjader center

From now on, potentially any migrant for whom repatriation orders have been issued may be sent to the Gjader center. The interior ministry is currently planning an initial transfer of this type.

"This will enable us to immediately reactivate the center, the nature of which is not be changed. To the contrary, fast-track border procedures will resume soon," vowed Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. The minister added that "no additional funds will be needed for the creation of the facilities as a CPR there had already been provided for."

Moreover, he said, "at the moment, the center is already active for about 50 places and work is underway to raise this to over 140."

Not even possible transfers from Albania to Italy for a later repatriation to their countries of origin will entail additional spending, the minister claimed, since "often the transfers already happen through connections between various Italian cities that cover the same distances."

The measure is an additional plan to the one already established for CPRs, he noted, adding that "work is underway on five others that will be completed by the end of the government's mandate, two of which will be completed soon."

Prior to the Gjader center serving its intended purpose for fast-track border procedures, two steps are needed: a ruling by the European Court of Justice, expected to arrive just before the summer, and the entering into force of the EU's new immigration and asylum regulations in June 2026.

New rules for Italian citizenship at birth

The other key measures in the decree are a package of legislative proposals by the foreign ministry to reform citizenship laws. The decree limits the automatic granting of Italian citizenship: only those with a parent or grandparent born in Italy will be able to become Italian citizens at birth.

Before this, anyone who could prove an Italian ancestor after March 17, 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, could get nationality. With this change, the Italian foreign ministry said it is attempting to valorise the actual link between Italy and its citizens abroad.

"Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing. It's not a game to get a passport that allows you to go shopping in Miami," Tajani said, adding that the aim was to "boost the affective link between Italy and the citizen abroad."

"Many descendants of emigrants will still be able to obtain Italian citizenship, but precise limits will be set, above all to avoid abuse," Tajani noted, criticising the "commercialisation of Italian passports."

Countries with the largest number of Italian immigrants, according to data released, have in recent years seen a surge in the granting of Italian citizenship. Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2024, Italian citizens residing abroad increased from about 4.6 million to 6.4 million: a 40 percent increase in 10 years.

On the basis of current regulations, the number of people in the world who could claim Italian citizenship number is between 60 million and 80 million, compared with a total population in Italy itself of around 59,000 people.