Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, shared his country’s “unconditional love” for Italy in a recent interview with Euronews, emphasizing that Italy has the exclusive privilege to host asylum seekers on Albanian soil. Rama made it clear that the deal between Italy and Albania is unique, and other governments should not expect the Balkan country to enter into similar agreements. Despite suggestions that the deal was linked to Albania’s EU accession path, Rama stated that it was based on a sense of responsibility as neighbors and Europeans. The agreement allows for migrants intercepted at sea by Italian authorities to be transferred to reception centers near the Albanian port of Shengjin, where their asylum claims will be processed by Italian personnel.
The five-year agreement between Italy and Albania, finalized last November, aims to process up to 36,000 applications per year in Albania. Migrants from countries deemed safe by Italy, whose claims are likely to be rejected, will be sent to these centers for processing. Successful applicants will be granted asylum in Italy, while non-eligible applicants will face detention and repatriation. Despite delays in opening the reception centers, Rome’s goals remain focused on efficiently handling asylum claims and tackling irregular arrivals. Brussels has not opposed the deal, stating that it falls outside the realms of EU law, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praising it as an innovative solution.
The deal between Italy and Albania has caught the attention of other EU member states, with 15 countries calling for the bloc to consider similar models as part of a joint effort to manage migration and asylum policy. Migration has become a prominent issue across the EU, with concerns over irregular arrivals fueling far-right parties’ influence. Germany’s migration commissioner, Joachim Stamp, suggested exploring facilities funded by the UK government in Rwanda as part of a European plan to accommodate unauthorized migrants. While the UK-Rwanda deal was scrapped by Keir Starmer’s government, the Prime Minister expressed interest in studying the Italy-Albania protocol as part of a pragmatic approach to addressing irregular arrivals.
The Italy-Albania migration deal has raised questions about the outsourcing of asylum procedures and the potential implications for migrants. Human rights defenders have warned of potential violations and lengthy detentions for migrants processed in these centers, potentially leading to a legal limbo. Despite these concerns, the European Commission has supported the agreement as an example of innovative operational solutions to irregular migration. This approach reflects a broader shift towards out-of-the-box thinking in addressing complex migration challenges, with a focus on finding practical and efficient solutions to manage migration flows across the EU.
As countries within and beyond the EU consider replicating the Italy-Albania model, there is growing interest in exploring new approaches to migration management. The UK government’s interest in the protocol signals a willingness to adopt pragmatic strategies to control irregular arrivals. While specific details of potential agreements may vary, the common goal is to streamline asylum processes, reduce irregular migration, and address the political pressures associated with migration policy. The evolving discussions around innovative solutions to migration challenges highlight the complexity of the issue and the need for creative and collaborative approaches to manage migration in a way that balances humanitarian concerns with border control measures.
