Italy (Washington Insider Magazine) – In a move to curb irregular migration, Italy has transferred the first group of asylum seekers to Albania under a controversial new agreement. The Italian navy ship Libra docked in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning, where 16 migrants—10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt—were escorted into a newly built processing center.
The deal, the first of its kind between a European Union nation and a non-EU country, allows Italy to process asylum applications outside its borders. Two reception centers have been built in Albania, with a maximum capacity of 3,000 migrants at any given time. Italy has set an annual limit of 36,000 migrants to be transferred, restricting the program to “non-vulnerable” men from countries classified as safe.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the initiative as a model for Europe, but rights groups argue it undermines migrants’ rights to asylum. A small protest at the port highlighted concerns, with banners reading, “The European dream ends here.” Activists warn the policy could set a precedent for shifting asylum responsibilities away from EU nations.
Following initial processing in Shengjin, migrants will be moved inland to Gjader, where they will await the outcome of their asylum applications. Those approved will be sent to Italy, while rejected applicants will be repatriated to their home countries.
With migration tensions rising across Europe, countries like Germany and Poland are also adopting stricter policies. As Italy implements its offshore processing system, the debate over migration management and asylum rights in the EU continues to intensify.
