Albanian migrant processing centres set up by the Italian government are set to welcome the first guests on Wednesday as an Italian Navy vessel, Libra, set off from Lampedusa on Monday.
Initial checks were carried out on board to ensure that the migrants met the criteria of the recently agreed Albania-Italy protocol, which states that they must be from safe countries, adult males and not considered vulnerable. The majority of the migrants are reported to be from Egypt and Bengal.
Vulnerable individuals, including women, children, the sick, and those who have suffered torture, were instead taken to Lampedusa and integrated into Italy’s regular asylum system.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi recently confirmed the operation’s launch after months of delay, with plans to ensure a steady flow of departures to Albania.
Once in Albania, the migrants’ asylum claims will be processed under the legal framework of Italy and the European Union.
The agreement for the Italy-run centres in Albania was signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian President Edi Rama last year and was supposed to start operations in May. However, a number of delays delayed the opening of the two centres.
Those referred to Albania will receive a decision on their claims within four weeks, and if they are granted asylum, will be returned to Italy and placed in reception centres. If their claims are rejected, they will be returned to their home countries.
However, the deal has raised concerns for many, not only on the operational front but also from a legal and human rights perspective.
Many are concerned about the backlog of unprocessed asylum claims in Italy and question why the claims of those transferred to Albania should be given priority over those who have been waiting in Italy for months.
Amnesty International, meanwhile, has raised serious human rights concerns on Monday. According to the organisation, the measures could lead to human rights violations, particularly in terms of mass arrests and automatic detention – practices Amnesty International says could violate Italy’s international obligations.
A recent EU Court of Justice ruling from 4 October might complicate matters, casting doubt on the entire Italy-Albania agreement, emphasising that a country can only be considered ‘safe’ if there is no persecution, torture or inhumane treatment of anyone within its borders.
However, 15 of the 22 countries on Italy’s “safe” list, including Tunisia, Egypt and Bangladesh, do not meet these conditions.
(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)
Source: euractiv.com
