The construction of two Italian migrant detention centers in Albania is currently underway, with the facilities expected to open at the beginning of August. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama signed a five-year deal in November regarding cooperation between the two countries when it comes to asylum seekers in Italy. As part of the agreement, Albania has agreed to detain up to three thousand migrants rescued from international waters each month while Italy processes their asylum claims. Asylum requests are expected to take around a month to process, with Albania potentially receiving up to 36,000 asylum seekers each year.
One of the centers is being built in Gjader, a former military airport located 80km away from the Albanian capital city of Tirana. The second center is nearing completion in Shengjin, with housing units and offices set in an area covering 4,000 square meters and surrounded by a 5-meter-high barbed metal fence. Meloni has defended the controversial plan, stating that it is necessary as part of her policy to crack down on migration and deter prospective refugees from making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing. However, human rights groups and opposition lawmakers have warned that refugee protections could be compromised, with Amnesty International calling the deal “dangerous” and “shameful.”
Meloni described the deal with Albania as “extremely innovative,” stating that 15 of the 27 EU countries had shown interest in the prospect. However, Albania is not an EU member, and the idea of sending asylum seekers outside the bloc has been met with controversy. Italy will remain legally responsible for asylum seekers detained at the Albanian centers throughout the process and will organize their deportations from the country if they are denied international protection. The initiative was first announced in July as a way to help alleviate chronic overcrowding in Italian processing centers and address the challenge of illegal migration into Italy, one of Meloni’s key promises as part of her political program.
Despite Meloni’s tough stance on immigrants, migrant arrivals in Italy have increased from last year. In seeking solidarity with other EU nations to help manage the large number of people arriving in the country, Italy has turned to Albania as a partner in processing asylum claims. The construction of the detention centers in Albania represents a step towards fulfilling this agreement and dealing with the ongoing challenge of migration into Italy. The controversial nature of the deal has drawn criticism from human rights groups and opposition lawmakers, who fear that refugee protections could be compromised in the process.
As the construction of the centers progresses and the agreement between Italy and Albania is set to be implemented, the focus will be on ensuring that asylum seekers are treated fairly and their rights are respected throughout the process. The success of this initiative will be measured by how effectively it addresses the issue of illegal migration into Italy and provides a sustainable solution for processing asylum claims in a timely and humane manner. While the controversial nature of the deal has sparked debate and criticism, the ultimate goal is to create a system that both upholds the rule of law and protects the rights of those seeking asylum in Italy.
