Rights teams criticise settlement that would see as much as 36,000 individuals a yr held in Italian-run asylum-processing centres.
Albania’s Parliament has permitted a deal signed with Italy that may see authorities maintain 1000’s of asylum seekers rescued in worldwide waters whereas their functions are processed, drawing criticism from human rights teams.
Beneath the settlement, Albania would maintain as much as 3,000 migrants and refugees at anyone time in two Italian-run processing centres positioned close to the Albanian port of Shengjin for intervals of a few month. It’s anticipated that as much as 36,000 individuals a yr could possibly be despatched to the nation.
The settlement has been denounced by rights teams with the Worldwide Rescue Committee describing it as “dehumanising“. Amnesty Worldwide condemned it as “unlawful and unworkable“.
The deal, permitted by Albania’s Constitutional Courtroom final month, was backed by 77 lawmakers within the 140-seat parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama‘s Socialist Celebration.
Conservative opposition MPs boycotted the vote, lambasting the federal government over an absence of transparency and saying the deal was an “irresponsible and dangerous act for national security”.
Albania’s parliamentary approval got here weeks after Italian lawmakers additionally voted in favour of the settlement.
The Balkan nation’s president will concern a decree as the ultimate step to implement the deal.
European Fee approval
The settlement was signed in November between Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. It was endorsed by European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Meloni mentioned she expects the 2 processing centres, which might be absolutely run by Italy, to change into operational by this spring.
Italy would stay legally liable for the asylum seekers all through the method and would organise their deportations from Albania if they’re refused worldwide safety.
Rama mentioned Albania stands beside Meloni in gratitude on behalf of Albanians who discovered refuge in Italy and “escaped hell and imagined a better life” after the collapse of communism within the Nineties.
The variety of migrants and refugees arriving in Italy by boat to date in 2024 has practically doubled to about 160,000 in contrast with the identical interval a yr in the past.