These two centers managed by Italy, operational in spring 2024, will be able to accommodate up to 3,000 migrants, or around 39,000 per year according to forecasts, according to a document communicated to AFP by government services.
These “two entry and temporary reception structures for immigrants rescued at sea” will make it possible to “quickly carry out procedures for processing asylum applications or possible repatriations”.
A country facing an influx of migrants since January
In the first reception and triage center located at the port of Shengjin (north) the disembarkation and identification procedures will take place, while the center of Gjader, a town located around twenty km away, will be responsible for subsequent procedures. The two centers, placed under Italian jurisdiction, will benefit from the collaboration of the Albanian police forces for security and surveillance activities.
This Italian-Albanian agreement “does not concern minors, pregnant women, and vulnerable people”, clarified Giorgia Meloni during statements to the press at government headquarters alongside Mr. Rama.
Italy, faced with an influx of migrants since January (145,000 compared to 88,000 in 2022 over the same period), has appealed for solidarity from its European partners, without much result so far.
“Albania confirms that it is a friendly country”
“If Italy launches an appeal, Albania responds,” said Edil Rama, attracting the support of Ms. Meloni to enter the European Union. “Albania confirms that it is a friendly country and although it is not yet part of the EU it behaves as if it were a member state,” she said. “I am proud that Italy has always been among the countries supporting enlargement to the Western Balkans.”
Italy is Albania’s largest trading partner, and trade between the two countries represents 20% of Albanian GDP. The opposition to the coalition government between the far right and the right led by Ms. Meloni rose against the signing of this agreement establishing “a real deportation in flagrant violation of international law”, in the words of the MP of the Green and Left Alliance Angelo Bonelli.
“The principle of non-refoulement is clear and cannot be circumvented. We cannot tolerate the right to asylum being emptied of its substance through agreements providing for the movement of people to a non-EU country without sufficient guarantees to their fundamental rights,” he denounced.