The annual report of the Italian intelligence services, “Relazione annuale sulla politica dell’informazione per la sicurezza 2026”, mentions Albania as an important element in migration and security issues in the Mediterranean region.
The document presents the country both as a partner in migration management and as a space where organized crime networks with international activity operate.
The report analyses the agreement between Italy and Albania on the management of irregular migrants. According to the document, the agreement is seen by Italian authorities as a test for a model that transfers some asylum procedures outside the territory of the European Union. Italy is assessing whether the establishment of reception and asylum processing centres in Albania could reduce the pressure on the Italian migration system.
The report presents four possible scenarios for migration developments during 2026. In the first scenario, considered the most likely, migration flows remain at levels similar to 2025 and the agreement with Albania functions within a manageable situation. In the second scenario, a decrease in migration flows is expected if the agreement is fully implemented and controls in North African countries are strengthened.
Another scenario mentioned in the report foresees a significant increase in migration if the situation in Libya worsens and control in Tunisia weakens. In this case, the agreement with Albania may not be sufficient to handle the pressure. The fourth scenario describes a broader crisis in the event of a collapse of control in Libya and a major increase in migration flows towards Europe.
In the section dealing with transnational crime, the report stresses that Albanian criminal groups continue to be present in international drug trafficking. The document describes these networks as well organized and capable of cooperating with other criminal organizations.
According to the report, Albanian groups often operate in cooperation with Italian criminal organizations, including ’Ndrangheta, in activities related to the import and distribution of cocaine from South America to European markets.
The document also mentions the role of Albania’s geographic position in trafficking routes. Access to the Adriatic Sea and proximity to Italy are cited as factors that make the country a transit point in some drug trafficking networks heading toward Northern Europe.
In conclusion, the report presents Albania as part of cooperation with Italy in managing migration, while at the same time highlighting the activity of Albanian organized crime networks in international drug trafficking.
