First asylum seekers arrive at Albanian port from Italy

The first asylum seekers arriving from Italy to have their applications processed in Albania arrived via ship to the Albanian port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning.

The arrivals will undergo health screening and identification procedures before being transferred, later in the day, to a reception camp in Gjader — located a few dozen kilometres from the port.

The boat carried 10 Bangladeshi and six Egyptian nationals who were rescued at sea by the navy ship Libra heading to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa on Monday.

Last week, Italy formally opened two centres in Albania, where it plans to process thousands of asylum-seekers who seek asylum outside its borders.

The centres will only house adult men, while vulnerable people such as women, children, the elderly and those who are ill or victims of torture will be accommodated in Italy. Families will not be separated.

Italian Ambassador to Albania Fabrizio Bucci said Friday the two centres were ready to process migrants after the opening was delayed for months to consolidate the crumbling soil at one centre in Gjader, where they will be accommodated.

Though the centre in Gjader has the capacity for 3,000 migrants, it will start with 400 and increase to 880 in a few weeks.

The number of people reaching Italy along the central Mediterranean migration route from North Africa has fallen by 61% in 2024 from 2023.

According to the Italian Interior Ministry, as of 15 October, 54,129 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea this year, compared to 138,947 by the same date last year.

Under a five-year deal signed last November by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, up to 3,000 migrants picked up by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month will be sheltered in Albania.

They will be screened initially on board the ships that rescue them before being sent to Albania for further screening.

The two centres will cost Italy 670 million euros over five years. The facilities are run by Italy and are under Italian jurisdiction, while Albanian guards provide external security.

In Albania, the migrants retain their right under international and European Union law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there. This process is expected to take a maximum of 28 days, including any appeal case.

Italy has agreed to welcome those who are granted asylum. Those whose applications are rejected face deportation directly from Albania.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the agreement as an example of “out-of-the-box thinking” in tackling the issue of migration into the European Union. But it has been slammed by human rights groups as setting a dangerous precedent.