The Albanian government has approved the agreement signed by Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni relating to the processing of asylum claims by Italy on Albanian territory, with the next step being a vote in parliament.
Last week, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama signed a Memorandum of Understanding that would have two centres in northern Albania deal with the evaluation and processing of asylum seekers and refugees rescued from the Mediterranean by Italian vessels.
The structures would be built, funded and operated by Italy, under Italian jurisdiction, wholly closed, guarded by Italian authorities, and also by Albanian police outside. They could hold up to 3,000 people at any one time, with a maximum of 36,000 over a year.
When a decision has been made on the individual’s application, Italy retains full responsibility for removing them from the country, either to Italy or another location.
However, now the Council of Ministers has proposed the draft law based on the agreement will be passed to parliament, an announcement published on the prime minister’s website states.
“The Council of Ministers decided the Proposal of the draft law ‘On the ratification of the protocol between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the government of the Italian Republic, for the strengthening of cooperation in the field of migration’, for consideration and approval in the Assembly of the Republic of Albania,” it states.
For the draft law to pass and the agreement to be ratified, a minimum of 71 out of the total 140 votes is required – a threshold that should not be hard to meet as 74 would come from Rama’s ruling Socialist Party counts, which could also rely on backing from its allies such as the Social Democratic Party.
This means that unless there is a significant rebellion among the socialists or allies, the law will pass, although considerable debate is expected.
The news comes one day after a coalition of 29 human rights organisations sent an open letter to the government demanding their withdrawal from the agreement. They expressed concern that the protocol risks the unjust deprivation of freedom and that it was signed in violation of EU legislation and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
“Taking into consideration the data that Italy examines asylum requests in very long periods (6 months to 1 year), this may result in unjust removal of freedom of movement for asylum seekers, violating the international principle of ‘non-refoulement [of] asylum seekers’ with potentially legal consequences for the Albanian state”, says the open letter.
It continues that there was no transparency or public consultation in drafting the agreement, nor was it discussed with the president or parliament, local communities, or the general public.
“This constitutes a disturbing development and deviation from the practice and standards of democratic countries, which are mandatory for a country like Albania,” the letter adds.
The Albanian government has described its deal with Italy as an act of solidarity demonstrating the country’s EU perspective and values, adding that no migrants will be left in Albania and that everything will be done according to national and international rules and standards.
(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com)
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