• Italy to build migrant centers.
• Collaboration with Albania.
• Controversial move criticized.

The Italian government will construct two centers in Albania to house tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

She disclosed the strategy during a joint news conference in Rome with Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania.

Capacity and Operation Details

Ms. Meloni stated that the centers, scheduled to commence operations in the upcoming spring, will have the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 36,000 individuals annually.

Those migrants rescued at sea by Italian vessels will be subject to the plan. Those who reach on Italian shores will not be affected.

Ms. Meloni stated that the migrants will remain in the centers while Italy reviews their asylum applications, adding that expectant women, children, and vulnerable individuals would be exempt from the plan.

She stated that the 3,000-person-per-month capacity of the structures, which will be constructed at the expense of Italy, would be sufficient “for the time required to expeditiously process asylum applications and, if necessary, for repatriation.”

In northwestern Albania, the Gjader region and the port of Shengjin will construct the centers. Albania will furnish police officers and security personnel.

While Albania is not yet a member of the European Union, Ms. Meloni stated that “it is already behaving like one.” She further expressed her conviction that “Albania is, practically speaking, a European nation” and advocated for the accession of Albania to the European Union.

“Start your investing journey with a gift! Claim your free Webull shares.”

Mr Rama, describing his country’s relationship with Italy in Italian, praised the assistance provided by Italian institutions and citizens to Albanians in the 1990s, following the collapse of the communist regime.

“This debt is non-repayable,” stated Mr. Rama. “But if Italy calls, Albania responds.”

Mr. Rama continued, “It is evident to all that Italy is in a precarious position.” For Italy, geography has become a burden, since entering the country is tantamount to entering the European Union. However, the EU is well aware of the complexities involved in administering these arrivals.”

Although we may not possess the ability to be the exclusive solution, he continued, “We have a responsibility to… assist Italy.”

Mr. Rama stated that he and Ms. Meloni discussed the agreement for the migrants’ center during the Italian prime minister’s summer vacation in Albania.

Political and Public Reactions

Both Albania and Italy have opposition politicians who have criticized the agreement.

The leader of the Italian liberal party +Europa (More Europe), Riccardo Magi, described the proposal as “terrifying” and compared the centers to “an Italian Guantanamo.”

Mr. Magi stated on X, formerly Twitter, “It is also an illegitimate agreement: Italy cannot transport rescued individuals at sea to a non-EU country as if they were packages or merchandise.”

Democratic Party of Albania Belind Kellici criticized the “lack of transparency” that surrounded the transaction.

“This is treason against Albania, and it is the biggest disloyalty that Rama could do to our country,” Mr. Kellici stated on X.

Edi Rama, the most ardent anti-Albanian of the present day, expels hundreds of thousands of young people annually to make way for unauthorized immigrants.

The announcement “caught everyone by surprise,” according to Andrea Costa, president of the Rome-based migrant aid organization Baobab Experience, and demonstrated that the immigration policies of the Italian government were “headed in the wrong direction.”

Mr. Costa stated that the centers were at risk of transforming “like Lampedusa in the Albanian hinterland,” an allusion to the Italian archipelago Lampedusa, which serves as a primary entry point for individuals seeking to reach Europe.

Additionally, he alluded to the British government’s endeavor to repatriate thousands of asylum applicants to Rwanda, stating, “It remains uncertain whether the centers in Albania will resemble Lampedusa, Rwanda, Guantanamo, or a combination of all three.”

The Impact on Italian Immigration Policies

Ms. Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy, a right-wing nationalist party, is notorious for her ardent opposition to immigration. She has announced a series of initiatives to end illegal immigration since becoming prime minister, including the detention of irregular migrants.

This year, however, Italy has received over 145,000 migrants, an increase of 52,000 compared to the same period in 2021.

In April, Italian ministers declared a state of emergency for six months in response to an increase in the number of North African migrants traversing the Mediterranean.

Concerned about Christmas prices rising? A joyful one is free!