Italy’s Parliament Approves Groundbreaking Migrant Deal with Albania: A Novel Approach to Migration Management

A New Chapter in Migration Policy

Italy has taken a bold step in tackling the complex issue of migration, securing parliamentary approval for a groundbreaking deal with Albania. This innovative agreement marks a departure from traditional approaches, aiming to share the burden of migration management with a fellow European nation.

The lower chamber of Italy’s parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, voted in favor of the proposal, setting the stage for its implementation. The deal, initially unveiled in November 2023, reflects Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s determination to address the challenges posed by the influx of migrants arriving in Italy.

The Essence of the Deal

At the heart of the agreement lies a unique arrangement: Albania will provide temporary shelter to up to 36,000 migrants annually, hosting them in designated centers for a period of one year. During this time, Italy will expedite the processing of their asylum applications, aiming to streamline the process and reduce the strain on its own migrant reception facilities.

This initiative signifies Italy’s long-standing desire for tangible support from its European Union (EU) partners in managing migration flows. Albania, aspiring to join the EU, has found a staunch ally in Italy, which has consistently advocated for its membership bid.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has hailed the deal as a crucial step forward, commending the out-of-the-box thinking that led to this innovative solution.

Mixed Reactions and Concerns

Despite the positive reception from some quarters, the agreement has also drawn criticism and raised concerns among human rights groups. The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Dunja Mijatović, expressed apprehension that the deal could potentially undermine fundamental human rights protections for migrants and prolong their suffering.

In her report, Mijatović highlighted the establishment of “an ad hoc extra-territorial asylum regime characterized by many legal ambiguities.” She argued that this arrangement could lead to the erosion of essential safeguards and rights.

Italy’s center-left opposition has also voiced strong objections, dismissing the deal as a costly publicity stunt ahead of the European elections scheduled for June 2024. They have decried it as an attempt to transform Albania into Italy’s version of Guantanamo Bay.

Financial Implications and Implementation Details

The text of the accord approved by the parliament reveals that the deal is projected to cost Italy approximately 600 million euros over a five-year period. This funding will be allocated to the construction and staffing of the migrant centers in Albania, as well as the establishment of remote screening processes.

Critics have argued that these funds could be more effectively utilized to enhance Italy’s existing migrant processing centers, rather than diverting them to the creation of new facilities in Albania.

Laura Boldrini, a Democratic lawmaker and former spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency in Italy, criticized the deal as a public relations ploy by the Meloni government, designed to create the illusion that migrant arrivals in Italy have ceased.

Boldrini pointed out the preliminary screening process to be conducted aboard Italian vessels at sea, aimed at identifying vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and victims of trafficking and rape. These individuals would be eligible for transfer to Italy for asylum processing, rather than being sent to the Albanian centers.

However, Boldrini questioned the effectiveness of this screening process, emphasizing the absence of clear guidelines and the difficulty in determining the status of individuals based solely on their appearance.

Government’s Response and Defense

In response to these criticisms, Augusta Montaruli, a lawmaker from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, asserted that all legal guarantees surrounding asylum applications would be extended to migrants both aboard the ships and in the Albanian centers, mirroring the protections they would receive in Italy.

Montaruli defended the deal as an integral component of the government’s comprehensive migration policy, which includes an agreement with Tunisia to facilitate legal migration and a broad development initiative for Africa.

While acknowledging that only a limited number of migrants (36,000 per year) would be sent to Albania, Montaruli maintained that the deal was worth the investment. She argued that it would alleviate pressure on Italy’s migrant processing centers, enabling them to operate more efficiently and expedite the screening of asylum seekers.

Montaruli emphasized that Albania’s involvement in this arrangement was consistent with the obligations that European member states should have fulfilled toward Italy, underscoring the need for shared responsibility in addressing migration challenges.

Albania’s Constitutional Considerations

In December 2023, Albania’s constitutional court suspended the ratification process of the deal, pending a review of its constitutionality. Prime Minister Rama expressed confidence that the court would ultimately find no constitutional violations.

However, the court recently postponed its next session on the matter to January 29, 2024, in order to review additional documentation related to the case.

Conclusion: A Step Towards a Comprehensive Solution

Italy’s agreement with Albania represents a bold and innovative approach to migration management. While it has drawn criticism and raised concerns, the deal also holds the potential to alleviate the burden on Italy and foster greater cooperation among European nations in addressing this complex issue.

As the deal moves forward, it will be crucial to monitor its implementation and assess its impact on migrants’ rights, the efficiency of asylum processing, and the overall effectiveness in managing migration flows. Only then can a comprehensive evaluation be made, determining whether this novel approach has indeed paved the way for a more humane and sustainable solution to the challenges posed by migration.