Italy’s parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial migrant agreement under which asylum seekers rescued at sea will be held in two migrant centres in Albania.
Italy’s lower house of parliament backed the protocol by 155 votes to 115, with two abstentions. The text has now been sent to the Senate, where approval is expected.
The decision came despite Albania filing a lawsuit against the agreement negotiated by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in November.
Under the November agreement, Albania agreed to host two centres for asylum seekers rescued at sea by the Italian coastguard, where no more than 3,000 people can be held at any one time while awaiting a decision on their claims.
According to official figures, the number of migrants has risen from about 105,000 in 2022 to nearly 158,000 in 2023.
