ROME (AP) — Italy is transferring its first group of migrants to Albania, the Interior Ministry said Monday, as part of a controversial plan to process thousands of asylum seekers outside its borders.
A naval ship left Lampedusa island with 16 men – 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt – who were rescued at sea after leaving Libya. The ship is expected to arrive Wednesday morning, a ministry spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government on Friday formally opened the two centers in Albania, where Italy plans to process thousands of male migrants seeking asylum after being intercepted in international waters while trying to cross into Europe.
The centers can initially house up to 400 migrants, with this number expected to increase to 880 within weeks, according to Italian officials.
Women, children, the elderly and people who are sick or victims of torture will be sheltered in Italy. Families will not be separated.
The five-year deal was approved last year by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as an example of out-of-box thinking in tackling the migration problem, but human rights groups say it sets a dangerous precedent.
A spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, which has raised serious concerns, said on Monday that one of its teams was conducting an “independent mission” on board the ship to monitor the screening process.
The agency, also known as UNHCR, has agreed to monitor for the first three months to help protect “the rights and dignity of those subject to it.”
The agreement, signed last year, calls for Albania to host up to 3,000 male migrants while Italy fast-tracks their asylum applications. The migrants retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their applications processed there.
The two centers will cost Italy €670 million over five years. The facilities will be managed by Italy and fall under Italian jurisdiction, while Albanian guards will provide external security.
Meloni and her right-wing allies have long demanded that European countries share a greater share of the migration burden.
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