Italy will relocate the reception of migrants arriving by sea to centers in Albania

Centers for migrants relocated to Albania: this is the latest project from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The two centers, under Italian jurisdiction, would be entirely financed by Rome, both the structure and the staff. The Albanian police, for their part, would participate in surveillance. These centers are due to open in spring 2024 and could take care of nearly 36,000 exiles each year, according to the Italian Prime Minister. But this project, which therefore plans to relocate the reception of migrants to a non-member country of the European Union, raises many legal and practical questions.

“I think this agreement is very important and can become a model to follow”, proudly declared Giorgia Meloni while presenting the text, Monday November 6. One center to examine migrants’ files, the other to place those refused asylum before expulsion. Some of the exiles rescued by official Italian ships will be affected, except for people deemed vulnerable. But how to make the selection on boats at sea? What does an Italian jurisdiction mean in Albania and which judges will be responsible for verifying respect for rights? At this stage, no response has been provided by the Italian and Albanian governments.

15% of removal measures to Africa are applied

Migrants will either have to obtain asylum and go to Italy, or be deported. Except that only 15% of removal measures towards Africa are applied. However, Albania is clear: Italy must take back those it cannot remove. Ultimately, according to Matteo Villa, immigration specialist at the ISPI think tank, “of the 36,000 migrants, Italy will have to take back around 31,000 in the end.”

Unless the migrants slip away from the centers, which would pose serious diplomatic problems. Especially since Albania assures that it has not negotiated any compensation, which is not the least mystery of this affair.