Human Rights Watch (HRW) has publicly criticized Italy’s recent agreement with Albania involving the transfer of asylum seekers. Terming the arrangement as a “model of mismanagement” and a “blueprint for abuse,” HRW’s condemnation puts additional pressure on a pact that has already faced significant controversy.
The immigration deal, signed in November, mandates that Italy will transfer 36,000 asylum seekers to the Albanian port city of Shengjin over a five-year period. The deal also includes the construction of a holding center in Albania, which will double as an asylum processing hub. Crucially, the security and operational control of these centers will fall under Italian jurisdiction.
Italian authorities plan to send asylum seekers from countries they classify as “safe” to Albania. This list of safe countries includes Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt, Kosovo, Colombia, and Georgia. Despite this designation, the transfer of such individuals has sparked significant concern from human rights organizations.
The Albanian parliament gave the green light to this deal in February, although the vote was marred by a boycott from opposition lawmakers who cited national security concerns. The controversy intensified as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her endorsement of the scheme, suggesting that it could serve as a model for other European nations dealing with similar migration issues. Meloni confirmed that two centers in Albania would be operational from August 1st, initially accommodating 1,000 asylum seekers, with an additional 3,000 to follow shortly thereafter.
For more details on the HRW’s stance and specifics of the deal, visit the HRW’s official response and a comprehensive overview from Reuters.