An Italian military ship, the Casiopea, arrived at Shëngjin Port in Albania on Tuesday, carrying 49 migrants from Egypt, Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, and Gambia. The vessel, which was delayed by a day due to a technical fault, is part of a controversial agreement between Italy and Albania to manage the growing migration crisis in Europe.
This marks the third group of migrants transported to Albania under the deal. Earlier, the Italian warship Libra brought two groups of 24 migrants in October and November 2024, primarily from Egypt and Bangladesh. Those individuals were later repatriated after Italian courts ruled their home countries were “safe.”
The latest arrivals have reignited debates over the agreement, with critics arguing that Albania is being used as a transit hub for Europe’s migration challenges. Supporters, however, say the deal is a necessary step to ease the pressure on Italy’s overburdened immigration system.
Local authorities in Shëngjin are now working to process the new arrivals, who are expected to face similar repatriation procedures. But as the number of migrants grows, questions remain about the long-term impact of such agreements on Albania and the broader EU migration policy.
