The Italian government has postponed the opening of two migrant centers in Albania, part of the “Protocol on Extraterritorial Migration Management” signed in November 2023 between Italy and Albania. Initially scheduled to open on August 1, 2024, to host the first 1,000 migrants rescued at sea, the centers in Gjadë and Shengjin are now expected to open on August 20 and September 1, 2024, respectively, due to construction delays caused by hot weather.
In June, lawyers from the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration (ASGI) visited the sites and expressed doubts about the feasibility of the Gjadë center being operational by August 1, 2024. They also raised concerns about the adequacy of the screening processes. The centers are designated for adult men, while vulnerable individuals such as women, children, and those who are ill or victims of torture are to be accommodated in Italy. Inadequate screening could jeopardize the safety of vulnerable migrants and undermine both countries’ commitments to migrant protection.Despite Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s praises of this initiative, the protocol has faced significant criticism.
Eve Geddie, the director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, labeled these centers as a “stain on the Italian government” and urged the European Union to reject such externalization of asylum processes. She contends that such practices undermine the principles of fair protection assessments and contravene international obligations to safeguard the rights of those seeking asylum. Geddie said:
“It’s shameful that despite all the criticism and concerns raised by human rights bodies, the Italian government has decided to go ahead with this agreement. Not only is the plan incredibly harmful, it is also unlawful.
On July 30, 2024, Italian and Albanian officials met to discuss the implementation of the bilateral protocol. The meeting underscored their commitment to combating human trafficking and enhancing border security through coordinated efforts and joint initiatives.
Hamed Karimi, refugee researcher at European Diversity Newsroom, emphasized the urgent need to prioritize human rights over political interests. He remarked, “The fundamental rights of refugees are being subordinated to the political agendas of governments. Human rights must always be prioritized. The conditions in these centers amount to the criminalization of individuals exercising their basic human right to seek safety and a better life. Refugees in these centers experience severe restrictions on their freedom, simply for fleeing from areas devastated by conflict and crisis. Such practices not only violate international human rights standards but also undermine the very principles of dignity and freedom that should guide our treatment of displaced persons.”
