Italy is transporting a group of migrants to Albania aboard a navy vessel, according to a source close to the situation. This move initiates a contentious plan to handle thousands of asylum-seekers abroad. The government, led by Giorgia Meloni, has established two reception centres in Albania. This marks the first instance of a European Union country redirecting migrants to a non-EU nation to curb irregular arrivals.
The source, who requested anonymity, mentioned that the navy ship Libra departed from near Lampedusa island with an unspecified number of recently rescued male migrants. These individuals hail from countries Italy considers safe and will undergo expedited border controls. Italy’s list of safe countries was recently expanded from 15 to 21, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia. Last year, 56,588 migrants arrived in Italy from these four nations alone.
Under the Albania agreement, up to 36,000 migrants can be sent to the Balkan country annually, provided they come from the safe countries list. This severely restricts their chances of obtaining asylum. However, a recent European Court of Justice ruling complicates matters. The court’s decision limits what can be classified as a safe country outside the EU. In a separate case involving the Czech Republic, the court ruled that a country cannot be deemed safe unless its entire territory is free of danger.
Italy on Monday began transferring migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to centres in Albania in a European first that has sparked criticism from human rights groups. https://t.co/6j07FxLGwo pic.twitter.com/FMuW5uPnVT
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 14, 2024
Matteo Villa, a senior research fellow with the ISPI think-tank, stated that the court is instructing governments to create their own lists of safe countries but cautioned against including nations with unsafe areas. He noted that if the ruling were enforced, it would be challenging to send anyone. This could jeopardise Italy’s plans if Italian judges apply the ruling to reject initial requests to send migrants to Albania.
The Italian interior ministry did not comment on the European Court of Justice ruling.
What Other Media Are Saying
- CNN reports Italy opening migrant centers in Albania to process asylum seekers, aiming to curb human trafficking and only accept those with genuine asylum claims, despite EU court ruling.(read more)
- AP News: Italy transfers migrants to Albania under a contentious plan to process asylum-seekers, raising human rights concerns and hailed as innovative by the European Commission.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why is Italy sending migrants to Albania?
Italy aims to manage asylum-seekers abroad to curb irregular arrivals by redirecting migrants to Albania.
How many migrants can Italy send to Albania annually under the new agreement?
Italy can send up to 36,000 migrants annually to Albania under the agreement.
What recent ruling affects Italy’s migrant plan?
The European Court of Justice ruled that a country can’t be deemed safe unless its entire territory is free of danger.
Which new countries are on Italy’s expanded safe countries list?
The expanded list includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia among others.
What could jeopardize Italy’s plan to send migrants to Albania?
Italian judges applying the European Court of Justice ruling could complicate sending migrants to Albania.