Italy sends first asylum seekers to Albania as part of controversial agreement | Migration News

An Italian navy ship has docked in Albania to deliver refugees and migrants. This is the first mission of its kind under a controversial agreement between the two countries that sends asylum seekers outside the European Union while their claims are processed.

The ship carrying 16 men captured in Italian waters arrived at Shengjin port on Wednesday. Italy’s right-wing government called the agreement unprecedented and was eyed by other EU states seeking to tighten their immigration policies. However, human rights groups criticized it as an undermining of human rights.

Ten men from Bangladesh and six from Egypt disembarked. They are the first newcomers under the agreement agreed between Italy and Albania in November.

The navy ship Libra left the port of Lampedusa on Monday. Officials said the refugees were rescued at sea after departing Libya last week.

Upon arrival in Albania, they were escorted to the gates of a processing center a few meters from the ship. Their cases are being heard at a nearby air base in Gjader, which can accommodate 3,000 people.

Italy has opened two centers in Albania where it plans to process up to 36,000 asylum seekers a year. The centers will operate under Italian law, with Italian security guards and staff, as well as judges hearing cases via video from Rome.

Under the agreement agreed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, initially for five years, people will first be screened on board the ships that rescue them before being sent to Albania for further screening.

Refugees intercepted in Italian waters who are considered most at risk, including women and children, are being brought to Italy.

The agreement is being implemented as other EU states seek to adopt tougher immigration policies due to pressure from the far right, which made significant progress in EU elections this summer.

Albania has stated that it will work exclusively with Italy.

“Cruel experiment”

A small group of activists gathered at the entrance to the port to protest the arrival of refugees, holding a banner that read, “The European dream ends here.”

Human rights groups question whether the agreement is compatible with international law.

Amnesty International described the centers as a “cruel experiment.” [that] is a blot on the Italian government.” Doctors Without Borders said the new strategy “raises serious human rights concerns.”

Meloni brushed off the criticism in his comments on Tuesday.

“It is a new, bold, unprecedented path, but one that perfectly reflects the European spirit and has what it takes to be taken with other non-EU countries,” she said.

The first mission under the deal comes ahead of an EU summit in Brussels this week where migration will be a key issue.

In a letter to member states ahead of the talks, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc could “draw lessons from these practical experiences.”

“Part of the problem”

Critics said the agreement would not have the desired “deterrence” effect due to the high cost of the operation, the limited capacity of processing centers and the fact that Italy would likely not be able to ultimately deport most refugees. .

Datalab Europe migration researcher Matteo Villa said: “The more migrants decide to travel, the higher the probability of being taken to Italy, as the capacity of the Albanian center is fixed.”

“No matter how you look at it, the idea of ​​opening a center in Albania will not only not be part of the solution, but it will become part of the problem,” he argued.

The number of people arriving in Italy from North Africa via the central Mediterranean migration route fell by 61 percent in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the Italian Interior Ministry, as of Tuesday, 54,129 refugees had arrived in Italy by sea so far this year, compared to 138,947 in the same period last year.

The two centers in Albania will cost Italy 670 million euros ($730 million) over five years.