The Regional Administrative Court affirms the right of civil society to access detention centres in Albania

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lazio has ruled that civil society organisations have the right to access migrant detention facilities established in Albania under the Italy–Albania protocol.

In its decision of 17 February 2026, the court upheld the position of the Association for Legal Studies on Immigration (ASGI), finding that it is entitled to enter and monitor the centres located in Shengjin and Gjader, which are used in the context of migration management arrangements between the two countries.

The case arose after the local prefecture denied ASGI access to the facilities, citing concerns related to public order and security, including the high level of media attention surrounding the centres. The court rejected this reasoning, stating that such justifications were insufficient to restrict access.

In its judgment, the TAR reaffirmed that organisations with a statutory mandate to protect fundamental rights are entitled to access places where individuals are deprived of their liberty. It also referred to previous case law establishing that access may only be delayed—rather than denied outright—in the presence of specific and well-founded risks to public order or security, and that such restrictions cannot be indefinite.

The ruling further clarified that access to detention facilities is not limited to recognised associations but may also extend to other actors who submit a reasoned request, reinforcing the principle of transparency and oversight.

The decision comes in the context of broader developments in European migration policy, including the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, and highlights the role of independent monitoring in ensuring accountability in places of detention.