An Italian navy ship carrying a group of migrants arrived at a port in Albania on Friday, marking another attempt by Rome to process asylum seekers abroad, following a previous effort that encountered legal challenges. The ship docked before 8 a.m., according to a Reuters reporter on the scene.
The migrants had been rescued near the Italian island of Lampedusa, and their transfer to Albania is part of Italy’s broader plan to ease the pressure on its immigration system by diverting asylum seekers to non-EU countries. Under the agreement with Albania, Italy has established two reception centers in the Albanian towns of Shengjin and Gjader. These centers are staffed by Italian personnel, and the number of migrants residing in Albania at any given time is capped at 3,000.
This development follows Italy’s first attempt to send migrants to Albania last month. However, that initiative faced legal obstacles when a Rome court ruled that the migrants could not remain in Albania due to concerns over their legal status. As a result, the group of 16 was returned to Italy after spending only a few days in Albania. The migrants were primarily from Egypt and Bangladesh, countries Italy had previously classified as “safe,” which allowed for their potential rapid repatriation.
Despite the setback, the Italian government is pressing forward with the plan, which includes the possibility of sending migrants from Tunisia. Italian newspapers have speculated that Tunisian migrants might be a priority for future transfers, given that Tunisia is considered more stable than other nations.
The legal complications around the transfer stemmed from a ruling by the European Court of Justice, which stated that a country outside the EU cannot be deemed “safe” unless it is entirely free from danger. In light of this ruling, the migrants who had been sent to Albania were brought back to Italy, where they were placed in unguarded centers for asylum seekers.
This effort by Italy to address its growing migrant crisis through agreements with non-EU countries has faced significant hurdles, but the government remains committed to finding alternatives to processing asylum seekers on its own soil.
Sources By Agencies