Italy begins controversial migrant transfers to Albania amid human rights outcry

Italy on Monday began transferring migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to centers in Albania, marking a European first that has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

The Italian navy’s Libra patrol vessel set off with the first group of would-be asylum seekers, according to a government source, without specifying how many people were on board.

The vessel is expected to arrive in Albania on Wednesday, La Repubblica reported. The passengers are reportedly from Egypt and Bangladesh.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office in October 2022, has prioritized curbing the influx of migrants from North Africa. In November, her government reached a deal with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to process some asylum seekers in Albania, a country outside the European Union.

The five-year agreement, valued at €160 million ($175 million) annually, applies to adult male migrants intercepted by the Italian navy or coastguard in international waters but within Italy’s search and rescue zone. Under the deal, migrants will first undergo an initial screening aboard military ships.

Authorities will then determine which migrants come from “safe” countries, which in theory could expedite repatriation. Upon arrival in Albania, the migrants will be transferred to a center in the northern port of Shengjin for registration and health checks, before being sent to a facility in Gjader to await processing of their asylum claims.

The Gjader facility includes a section for migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected, along with a small detention area. These centers will operate under Italian law, with Italian security and staff in charge. Migrants considered vulnerable under EU law—including minors, women, people with mental health issues, or victims of trafficking or abuse—are exempt from the transfer program and will be processed in Italy.

When the deal was announced, the Italian government said the centers would house up to 3,000 people at a time. However, media reports suggest the current capacity is less than half that.

Human rights groups concerned

The opening of Italy’s centers in Albania coincides with an upcoming EU summit in Brussels, where migration policies, including faster deportations of those not eligible for asylum, are expected to be discussed.

Human rights groups have raised concerns about the deal, questioning whether Albania will provide sufficient protection for asylum seekers.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi described the Albanian centers as “light detention” facilities, stating, “There is no barbed wire, and assistance is provided.” He added that all migrants can apply for international protection and expect a response within a few days.

However, the Italian prison guards’ union, UILPA, which will supply guards to the Albanian centers, warned that Piantedosi’s assessment was overly optimistic, citing issues with water and electricity infrastructure still being incomplete.

Meloni’s hard stance on migration

Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, has made tackling illegal immigration a central pillar of her agenda since her 2022 election victory. In addition to the Albania agreement, Italy has struck a deal with Tunisia, offering aid in exchange for increased efforts to block migrants bound for Italy.

Italy also renewed a 2017 agreement with Libya, providing training and funding for the Libyan coastguard to prevent migrant departures and return those intercepted at sea.