“The agreement with Albania on migrants can become a model of collaboration between EU countries and non-EU countries on the management of migratory flows” said Giorgia Meloni in an interview with Il Messaggero, while the Albanian politicians of opposition raise barricades.
"It is an agreement that strengthens the strategic partnership between Italy and Albania and is substantial three goals: to combat human trafficking, prevent irregular migratory flows and welcome into Europe only those who truly have the right to international protection”, thus the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni summarized the signing of the important agreement in Il Messaggero.
Yesterday ANSA examined the disputed memorandum of understanding between Italy and Albania on migrant centres. A 9-page, 14-article document describing the agreement which is valid for five years, renewable for another five. Six months before the expiry, the parties may communicate their intention not to proceed with the reconfirmation.
In the centers for migrants who will insist on Albanian territory, it is specified in the document, there is the right of defense is ensured, that is, lawyers, international organizations and EU agencies that provide advice and assistance to applicants for international protection will have free access, within the limits of Italian, European and Albanian legislation.
La stay at the centers will be identical to that provided for by the rules in Italy (max 18 months) and at the end of the procedures Rome, at its own expense, will provide for the repatriation of guests who are not entitled to stay in the EU.
The structures, which will be able to accommodate the maximum three thousand migrants, will be managed by Italy according to Italian and European regulations and any disputes with migrants will be subject to Italian jurisdiction alone.
The Interior Minister clarified the nature of the centers as follows: Matteo Piantedosi, to the Schengen Parliamentary Committee: “Those envisaged by the protocol signed with Albania are not CPRs but structures like the one in Pozzallo-Modica, where people are detained, with a validated order from the judge, for the time necessary to carry out the accelerated procedures for identifying and managing the asylum application of people coming from safe countries".
Albanian discontent
The center-right opposition raised the barricades in Tirana and, from the words of the vice president of parliament on Facebook, Agron Gjekmarkaj lets know: "The Meloni government is under great pressure to manage the migrant crisis, and "the Rama government should not transfer this crisis to Albania".
A facility for migrants at Shengjin port, he warned Gjekmarkaj, would do "the dream of this important seaside resort in the north of the country to develop tourism will vanish“. The leader of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, complains about the lack of transparency on the part of the prime minister who "has no mandate to negotiate with any country: Italy is our ally and partner, a friendly country, but this is about national interests", he added, accusing Rama of being responsible for the flight of the Albanians themselves abroad “while he decides to let illegal migrants arrive here. It's unacceptable."
Rama would have signed the agreement “driven only by his shady interests", denounced the former centre-right prime minister Sali berisha.
The EU's requests for clarification
“We are in contact with the Italian authorities, we have asked to receive details on the migration agreement with Albania”. A spokeswoman for the European Commission says this at the daily briefing. “Before commenting further we need to understand what exactly we intend to do."
“We have been inform yourself about the Italy-Albania agreement before the announcement“, says a spokeswoman for the European Commission.
“The agreement between Italy and Albania, from our first information, looks different to that between Britain and Rwanda“, underlined the spokesperson of the EU Commission Anitta Hipper in the press briefing, reiterating, however, that the Commission has requested further details on the agreement.
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