Italy delivers first migrants to Albania under new deal

SHENGJIN, Albania: A ship carrying the first group of migrants to be processed in Albania under a deal with Italy arrived in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning, setting in motion the first scheme by a European Union state to divert asylum seekers abroad.

Italy has built two reception centres in Albania under its controversial programme, which aims to deter irregular arrivals to Italy but has been criticised by rights groups who say it restricts migrants’ right to asylum.

The Libra, an Italian navy ship, docked at Shengjin, Reuters footage showed. Sixteen migrants were escorted into a newly built processing centre at the port, ringed by a high metal fence and adorned with Italian and EU flags.

Rising tension in Europe over migration issues has seen many nations, including Germany and Poland, propose or adopt tougher policies. The UK’s previous government had planned to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, although Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the plan after taking office in July.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this week that her country was setting an example for the rest of Europe with the Albanian scheme. Fifteen European countries have taken an interest in the scheme, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said in parliament in Rome, without naming them. Earlier, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the Italian scheme may serve as a model.