Oct 14, 2024 – Italy has transferred its first group of illegal migrants to Albania under a recently implemented bilateral agreement aimed at easing migration pressures on Italy’s borders. The Italian Navy’s ship “Libra” set sail towards the port of Shëngjin, in Albania’s Lezha County, where the migrants will undergo expedited border procedures.
Reports indicate that the group consists solely of male migrants, though the exact number has not yet been disclosed by authorities. The migrants will be processed in newly established reception centres in Albania, as part of a broader effort to address illegal immigration in the region.
This move follows a protocol signed on 6 November 2023 between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The agreement, ratified by the Albanian Parliament in February 2024, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in managing migration flows from third countries, in line with international and European legal standards.
Once the ship reaches Shëngjin, the migrants will undergo initial health and security checks before being transferred to the designated migrant centres. Authorities have not yet provided an exact timeline for the ship’s arrival.
The agreement, which has sparked debate in both Albania and Italy, allows Albanian authorities to temporarily host migrants while their border or repatriation procedures are finalised. This initiative is seen as part of a broader strategy to relieve pressure on Italy’s overstretched immigration system and foster closer bilateral ties in managing migration challenges.
Albania’s government emphasises that the migrants’ stay in the country will be temporary, with the sole aim of processing them for potential return to their countries of origin.
