A controversial step in European migration policy
The Italian authorities have taken a bold turn in their immigration strategy: 40 people without residence permits were transferred to detention centers run by Italy in Albania. This measure marks a precedent, since it is the first time that a country in the European Union sends migrants to a nation outside the bloc that is not their place of origin or transit.
Details of the operation and reactions
The migrants, whose nationality has not been revealed, left the port of Brindisi and will be housed in facilities built by Italy in Shengjin and Gjader, near Tirana. These spaces were designed to process asylum applications, but their use has been blocked by Italian courts since their inauguration in October. Human rights groups denounce that this practice violates international law and establishes a dangerous precedent.
“They need to justify an incredibly expensive structure,” said Meghan Benton of the Migration Policy Institute, while experts such as Francesco Ferri of Action Aid question the legality of the bilateral agreement. “There is no legal basis to deport from Albania,” he stated.
Giorgia Meloni’s government recently expanded the functions of these centers to include the retention of rejected applicants, although the EU is still debating a similar proposal. Meanwhile, arrivals on Italian coasts have decreased by 29% compared to 2023, according to official data.
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