Italy Redirects Migrants to Albania for Processing

Italy has initiated a controversial plan to redirect migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to Albania for asylum processing, in a deal signed with Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama. The plan involves two centers in Albania, capable of housing up to 36,000 migrants annually, with Italy covering the €670 million cost over five years. This arrangement, endorsed by the EU, aims to manage migration more effectively, but has raised significant human rights concerns, particularly from the UNHCR, which will oversee the initial months of operation. Only male migrants from designated 'safe' countries will be sent to these centers, while vulnerable groups like women and children will remain in Italy. Human rights organizations argue that the plan could set a troubling precedent and potentially violate international law, especially following a recent European Court of Justice ruling on the definition of 'safe' countries. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni supports this initiative, also viewing it as a step towards aiding Albania's EU accession ambitions.