SHENGJIN, Albania (Reuters) – The former Albanian navy port will become a reception center for African, Asian, and Middle Eastern migrants sent from Italy. The deal, set to be approved by Albania’s parliament, allows Italy to build migrant-processing centers in Albania, one of Europe’s poorest and least developed countries.
This is the first instance of a non-European Union country accepting migrants on behalf of an EU nation, part of a wider EU campaign to crack down on irregular immigration. This has fueled the rise of far-right popularity.
Migrants arriving in Italy will be transported by boat to the ex-navy port of Shengjin, a popular tourist spot on Albania’s northern Adriatic seacoast.
Mhill Marku, an Albanian ex-military officer, expressed support for the agreement, citing his children being raised in Italy. He highlighted Italy’s assistance during Albania’s economic collapse in the ’90s.
After arriving in Shengjin, migrants will be taken inland to Gjader, a small town about a 15-minute drive away, where they will be accommodated until their papers are processed. Both facilities in Shengjin and Gjader will be staffed by Italian personnel.
Under the deal, the total number of migrants in Albania at any given time cannot exceed 3,000. The European Commission in Brussels has stated that the Italian-Albanian scheme does not violate EU law.
Albania’s Constitutional Court ruled that the deal is “in accordance with the constitution” and can be ratified in parliament. However, rights experts are concerned it might be difficult for Italian courts to process asylum requests promptly.
The plan has raised comparisons to the British government’s attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in East Africa. The Rwanda scheme was declared unlawful in November by the non-EU Britain’s Supreme Court.
The U.N. high commissioner for human rights chief expressed concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions for migrants. The deal has also been criticized by human rights groups.
(Reporting by Florian Goga; writing by Ivana Sekularac; editing by Mark Heinrich)
