Italy wants to process asylum procedures in refugee camps in Albania in a fast-track procedure and outside the EU. Now the first migrants are expected there. Other EU countries are watching with interest.
After months of delay, the Italian right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni is getting serious: On Wednesday, Italy will become the first country in the European Union to begin accepting migrants who had made their way to Europe via the Mediterranean into camps outside the EU. A first group of 16 men from Egypt and Bangladesh are expected in Albania on an Italian navy ship.
There, Italian officials are supposed to examine their asylum applications and decide on them in a fast-track procedure. If the application is rejected, they should also be deported from Albania. They are only allowed to continue to Italy if they are granted asylum.
The agreement negotiated by Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama last year is now officially underway. It envisaged the establishment of reception centers on Albanian soil so that Rome could process extraterritorial asylum procedures for migrants there. Meloni wants to outsource asylum procedures from Italy and simplify deportations. However, Meloni also emphasized that the refugee camps should serve as a deterrent.
Only men from safe countries of origin are affected
This affects men from countries of origin classified as safe who were picked up by Italian authorities’ ships on their way across the Mediterranean to Europe. Before they are brought to Albania, the people on board are first checked. This excludes women, children, the sick and victims of torture.
According to the plans, the migrants taken on board in the Mediterranean will first be taken to the camp at the Adriatic port of Shengjin for an initial check. They should then come to the main camp in Gjader in the interior of the country to wait for their asylum decision.
The opening of the two refugee camps on Albanian soil was originally scheduled for May, but was delayed several times due to various technical problems on site and organizational difficulties. They officially began operations on Friday.
Warehouses cost Italy a total of 670 million euros
Italy manages the camps and ensures security there. In addition, Rome bears all “direct and indirect” costs. These are therefore Italian camps on Albanian soil. Newspapers in Italy therefore mocked the idea of a “Meloni country”. The two camps will cost Italy a total of around 670 million euros over a period of five years.
Italy is one of the countries particularly affected by the refugee movement from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean. Last year in particular, the numbers were high: almost 160,000 migrants reached Italy’s coasts on boats in 2023. Fewer than half as many people are currently arriving than a year ago. Nevertheless, tens of thousands still make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean on boats that are often barely seaworthy.
EU states are closely monitoring the outsourcing of asylum procedures
The agreement on the handling of asylum procedures in third countries is a first that is being followed closely by other EU states. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) described it as an “interesting model”. She announced that she would include the experiences from the project in her considerations about the possibility of such procedures. However, the minister is of the opinion that, in addition to legal questions, what is particularly relevant is whether there is a state that would be willing to tolerate such procedures on its territory.
According to Rama, he has already received many requests from other EU countries to accommodate asylum seekers in Albania. He rejected this, but made an exception for Italy. From Meloni’s point of view, a success. The Prime Minister should therefore be able to appear stronger at the EU summit of European heads of state and government on Thursday. The issue of migration is likely to play an important role there.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also interested in the project. In a report before the summit, the German leader suggested “exploring possible avenues for the development of return centers outside the EU.” Practical lessons can be learned from the Italy-Albania model.
Criticism of the legality and conditions for migrants
Human rights activists, on the other hand, criticized the project and spoke of an “Italian Guantánamo”. The legality is also questioned. A ruling by the European Court of Justice raises doubts about the project. Accordingly, a country can only be considered safe if, among other things, there is no persecution or torture there. However, 15 of the 22 countries of origin classified as safe by Italy do not meet these conditions.
Source: Stern
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