In a groundbreaking move, Albania’s Constitutional Court announced on Wednesday that thousands of migrants rescued in international waters by Italy can now be sent to Albania. The decision follows an agreement reached between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in November, which awaits parliamentary approval in Albania on Thursday.
Under the proposed deal, migrants rescued by Italy will be housed in a former Albanian navy port in Shengjin on the northern Adriatic seacoast while their Italian asylum applications are processed. Subsequently, they will be relocated inland to Gjader, where they will receive accommodation and support from Italian personnel, ensuring Italy’s legal responsibility for their well-being.
This historic agreement marks the first instance of a non-European Union country accepting migrants on behalf of an EU member state. The European Commission in Brussels has endorsed the Italian-Albanian program, deeming it compliant with EU law and part of a broader campaign to address irregular immigration.
However, concerns have been raised by human rights groups and international leaders regarding living conditions, potential arbitrary detention, and the impact on asylum procedures for migrants living in another country. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Rescue Committee have voiced opposition to the deal, warning of the risks of pushing migrants onto more perilous routes in search of safety.
The deal, spanning five years, will see Albania accommodating up to 3,000 migrants at a time. Despite criticism, Prime Minister Rama expressed gratitude to Italy, drawing parallels with Albanians who sought refuge there following the collapse of communism in the 1990s.
With Rama’s left-wing party holding a parliamentary majority, the deal is expected to pass. However, comparisons have been drawn to Britain’s plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda in East Africa, which was deemed unlawful by the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court in November.
The agreement underscores the complexities and challenges of managing migration flows in the Mediterranean region, with humanitarian concerns and legal obligations taking center stage in the ongoing debate surrounding migration policies.
