Italy has initiated the transfer of the first group of migrants to Albania, marking the commencement of a controversial strategy to process numerous asylum-seekers outside its borders. A naval ship set sail from the island of Lampedusa carrying 16 men, 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt, who were rescued at sea following their departure from Libya. The vessel is anticipated to reach its destination on Wednesday morning, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry.
The far-right government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni recently inaugurated two centers in Albania, where Italy intends to handle the asylum requests of male migrants intercepted in international waters while attempting to cross into Europe. Initially capable of housing up to 400 migrants, the capacity is projected to expand to 880 in the coming weeks, as per Italian authorities.
Notably, women, children, elderly individuals, and those who are unwell or have been subjected to torture will be accommodated within Italy, with a commitment to keeping families together. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the five-year agreement last year, hailing it as an innovative approach to addressing migration challenges. However, various human rights organizations have raised concerns, cautioning against the establishment of a concerning precedent.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has expressed apprehensions regarding the situation and has dispatched a team to oversee the screening process independently. The agency has agreed to supervise the initial three months to ensure the protection of the rights and dignity of the individuals affected. The accord stipulates that Albania will host up to 3,000 male migrants while Italy expedites their asylum applications, allowing the migrants to retain their right to seek asylum in Italy under international and EU regulations.
Italy is set to incur costs amounting to 670 million euros ($730 million) over the span of five years for the operation of the two facilities. While the centers will be managed by Italy and fall under Italian jurisdiction, external security will be provided by Albanian guards. Meloni and her right-wing coalition have persistently advocated for a more equitable distribution of the migration burden among European nations.
For more updates on migration-related developments, please visit AP's migration coverage.
