Breaking News
July 6, 2025 - West Ham Reject £50m Tottenham Bid for Mohammed Kudus July 6, 2025 - France Defeats England in Euro 2025 Opener, Putting Defending Champs in Peril July 5, 2025 - Barcelona Informed of Price to Sign Rafael Leão from AC Milan July 5, 2025 - Euro 2025: Wales Fans Debut with Loss to Netherlands in Lucerne July 5, 2025 - France vs. England Uefa Women's Euro Championship: Live Updates and Highlights on ESPN July 5, 2025 - U.S.-Mexico Gold Cup Final Preview: Rivalry Renewed in Houston July 5, 2025 - Arsenal's Arteta Sets Two-Week Deadline for Striker Signing Amid Gyökeres Talks July 5, 2025 - Liverpool Players and Fans Mourn Diogo Jota and Brother at Funerals in Portugal July 5, 2025 - Late Own Goal Propels Chelsea Past Palmeiras in CWC Semifinals July 5, 2025 - Palmeiras vs. Chelsea Live Coverage: FIFA Club World Cup Updates on ESPN
  • HotRecentNews.com
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Health
HotRecentNews.com
Menu
  • World

  • Politics

  • Sports

  • Entertainment

  • Science

  • Technology

  • Health

Home / World / Italy Ships Migrants to Albania Under European Migration Deal

Italy Ships Migrants to Albania Under European Migration Deal

Italy Ships Migrants to Albania Under European Migration Deal
No Comments 20
Facebook X
World October 17, 2024 13:10

tirana - Italy has intercepted and shipped a group of migrants to Albania under a new European migration agreement, marking a milestone in the continent's migration policy.

In a first-of-its-kind move in the European migration dossier, a group of migrants heading towards Italy in the Mediterranean Sea has been intercepted and redirected to Albania. The Italian Navy's operation was made possible by an agreement signed between Rome and the Albanian government last year.

The Italian naval ship Libra picked up a boat carrying migrants from Libya en route to the Southern Italian island of Lampedusa in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea last Sunday and sailed to Albania with the migrants.

The group, consisting of ten Bangladeshis and six Egyptians, arrived in the Albanian town of Shengjin on Wednesday morning. Shengjin, a coastal town with many hotels usually frequented by tourists, conducted registration and checks which revealed two minors and two individuals in vulnerable situations. These four were subsequently transferred to Italy while the rest were sent to the Gjader reception center, located over twenty kilometers inland in Albania.

The reception center, situated on a former military base with a runway, serves as a decision-making point for migrant asylum applications. It accommodates 880 asylum seekers, 144 spots for those with rejected applications awaiting repatriation, and twenty prison spaces for offenders. Italian law is enforced in both reception centers.

Since migrants transported to Albania by the Italian Navy must originate from safe countries, the likelihood of their asylum requests to Italy being accepted is low, resulting in potential repatriations. However, it raises questions about whether the migrants' countries of origin would accept them. The asylum eligibility process in Italy must conclude within four weeks. Those contesting deportation decisions can have a video hearing with the Rome court within a week.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the agreement on the two reception centers in Albania last November. Italy manages the centers, bearing the financial burden. The initiative is set for five years with a possible extension for another five years. Over the five-year period, Italy's expenditure is estimated between 650 to 670 million euros. Annually, up to 36,000 migrants can be transferred to Albania, totaling 3,000 per month.

This strategy aims to combat human trafficking and deter an influx of illegal migrants. The relocation is intended to dissuade migrants from attempting to reach Italy. The accord impacts the wider European Union as most migrants typically aim to travel to other EU countries via the Southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

Prime Minister Meloni expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "I am proud that Italy has become a model for other nations to follow. I am delighted that governments of varying political ideologies acknowledge Italy's efforts. This showcases the pragmatism and effectiveness characterizing our fight against illegal immigration," added the Prime Minister. Given Italy's geographic location, it has faced challenges with migrant flows from North Africa. In 2019, former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, of the Lega party, refused NGO rescue ships carrying migrants to dock in Italy. Consequently, a prosecutor seeks a six-year prison term against him. Seeking alternatives to stem the migrant flow, Meloni believes the Albanian agreement presents a viable solution. Notably, the influx of migrants from North Africa to Italy has decreased by over 60% compared to the same period last year.

The leftist Italian opposition criticizes the Italy-Albania agreement as extravagant spending, suggesting it violates international law. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International also oppose the accord, citing concerns over the migrants' rights. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, however, cautiously supports the concept, suggesting Europe may derive valuable insights from this experience.

NEW TikTok Removes #SkinnyTok Worldwide After Pressure from Brussels and Paris

Leave a comment Cancel

reload

Trending Now

  • Today
  • Yesterday
  • Month
  • Comments
  • 1

    Mbappé Secures Real Madrid Quarterfinal Victory Over Dortmund in FIFA Club World Cup

    July 6, 2025
  • 2

    Real Madrid's Gonzalo García Shines at Club World Cup

    July 6, 2025
  • 3

    Brazilian Striker Igor Jesus Joins Nottingham Forest from Botafogo

    July 6, 2025
  • 4

    Brighton Signs Belgium Defender Maxim De Cuyper from Club Brugge

    July 6, 2025
  • 5

    Arsenal Signs Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for €60 Million

    July 6, 2025
  • 1

    Chelsea Signs Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund on Long-Term Contract

    July 5, 2025
  • 2

    Manchester United Signs 18-Year-Old Paraguayan Defender Diego Leon

    July 5, 2025
  • 3

    Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich Live Updates on ESPN

    July 5, 2025
  • 4

    The Art of Team Talks: Insights from Thiago Silva and Mikel Arteta

    July 5, 2025
  • 5

    PSG Overcome Adversity to Beat Bayern Munich at Club World Cup

    July 5, 2025
  • 1

    Liverpool Nearing Deal for Florian Wirtz as Transfer Rumors Heat Up

    June 7, 2025
  • 2

    María Sánchez Completes Move to Liga MX Femenil's Tigres

    June 21, 2025
  • 3

    André Onana Prefers to Stay at Manchester United Amid Monaco Interest

    June 21, 2025
  • 4

    Concacaf Gold Cup: USMNT vs. Haiti Live Updates at AT&T Stadium

    June 23, 2025
  • 5

    Arsenal Balk at Sesko's Wage Demands, Transfer Rumors Swirl

    June 23, 2025
Hot Recent News
The HOTRECENTNEWS.com is not responsible for the content of external sites.

SEARCH

  • World News

Back to Top