Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday a new agreement by Italy to set up centres in Albania to accommodate asylum seekers, the Week reports.
Meloni said the move “could become a model of co-operation between EU and non-EU countries in managing migration flows”. Under the agreement, centres capable of hosting up to 3,000 people will be set up in Albania. Meloni noted:
“I am pleased to announce with Albanian prime minister Edi Rama a memorandum of understanding between Italy and Albania concerning the management of migration flows.”
However, the move was sharply criticised by Italy’s opposition parties, who called it “disorderly”.
Italy will set up one of its centres in the northwestern Albanian port of Shengjin, where the identification process will take place. An inspection centre will also be set up at the same port. For the rest of the procedures, a second centre will be set up in Gjader. Authorities plan to host people rescued at sea, excluding asylum seekers who arrived on Italian shores and territory.
On Tuesday, Germany agreed with the heads of 16 EU member states on a tougher migration policy and new funding for refugee aid. The agreement will be scrutinised by the European Union, which will assess its acceptability. Meloni said the centres would be under Italian jurisdiction.
The German government has agreed to take measures that will make it easier to deport migrants and make the country a less attractive destination, in contrast to the open-door policy that Berlin pursued under former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Scholz called the agreement as a “historic moment.”
The government has agreed to pay the states and municipalities €7,500 per refugee from next year. Berlin would make an advance payment of €1.75 billion in the first half of 2024.
Sweden has called for increased efforts to ensure security and an effective return policy for migrants, expressing concern about the problem. In a letter sent to the EU, Sweden urged EU members to take the necessary steps.
Gunnar Strömmer, Sweden’s Justice Minister, together with Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergaard said that “it is crucial for the overall security of the EU area in the future that the EU reaches an agreement on an EU pact on migration and asylum”.
