Italy Ships Migrants to Albania Under European Migration Deal

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.