An Italian navy ship has arrived at the Albanian port of Shengjin, carrying the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters. The naval ship Libra departed from the port of Lampedusa on Monday with 16 men onboard – 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt, who were rescued at sea after setting off from Libya, according to a ministry spokesperson.
Italy has recently opened two processing centres in Albania, as part of a plan to handle thousands of asylum-seekers outside its borders. A five-year agreement signed last November between Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama allows for up to 3,000 migrants rescued by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month to be accommodated in Albania.
Although some countries like Italy, which face a significant influx of refugees, have supported this arrangement, it has faced criticism from human rights groups for potentially establishing a harmful precedent. The move to outsource the housing of asylum-seekers to a non-EU member country has sparked debates and concerns among various stakeholders.
The Italian ship docking in Albania marks a significant development in the ongoing migration crisis, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by countries dealing with migration flows across borders. The collaborative efforts between Italy and Albania reflect the shared responsibility and cooperation needed to address such humanitarian issues in the region and beyond.