Italian Navy Delivers 49 Migrants to Albania Amid Ongoing Asylum Controversy
An Italian navy ship docked in Albania on Tuesday, bringing in 49 migrants intercepted in international waters as part of an initiative to process their asylum applications at specially established centers in Albania. This marks the third attempt at such a transfer following previous setbacks owing to judicial challenges in Italy.
While the Italian Interior Ministry did not disclose the nationalities of the migrants, reports from Italian media suggest they hail from countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Gambia. This latest action follows two unsuccessful attempts in October and November when Italian courts blocked the transfer of migrants to these centers, citing safety concerns regarding their home countries for potential returns.
The matter has now escalated to the European Court of Justice, scheduled to address it on February 25. The court's previous rulings have stated that asylum seekers cannot undergo rapid procedures that might result in deportation if their countries are not deemed safe enough.
Despite the judicial roadblocks, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration is determined to reactivate the centers in Albania that have been inactive since court decisions ceased their operations. This determination has been slightly bolstered by a late December ruling from Italy's highest court indicating that Italian judges do not have the authority to dictate government policy regarding the safety of countries for migrant repatriation. However, it does permit lower courts to assess safety on an individual basis, rather than establishing a broad policy.
The migrants are scheduled to go through an initial check at a reception center located at the port of Shengjin, before being transported to the Gjader accommodation center, about 22 kilometers east. Under a November agreement, up to 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month can be housed in Albania while their asylum claims are vetted for either acceptance in Italy or repatriation.
Italy has committed to accepting those migrants who are granted asylum, while individuals whose asylum requests are denied could be deported directly from Albania. This strategy of outsourcing the management of asylum seekers to a non-EU country has received support from some nations grappling with escalating migrant arrivals. Still, many human rights advocates are critical, arguing that such agreements set a treacherous precedent.
So far this year, Italy has seen the arrival of 3,704 migrants, more than twice the number recorded during the same period last year, which saw 1,305 arrivals. Overall, last year accounted for 66,317 arrivals, a 58% decrease from the previous year's figures. The majority of migrants originated from Bangladesh, followed by Syria, Tunisia, and Egypt, according to the Italian Interior Ministry.
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