The Albanian Supreme Court has temporarily halted a plan for Italy to transfer tens of thousands of asylum seekers to Albania for processing.
The court has ordered a hearing next month to determine if the arrangement violates Albania’s constitution.
The agreement, signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, involves building two processing centers in northern Albania to handle 36,000 individuals annually attempting to reach Italy.
According to the deal, around 3,000 people monthly, who tried to cross into Italy via sea, would be held in these centers near Shengjin for asylum assessments, under Italian jurisdiction and funded by Italy.
Italian staff would oversee operations and enjoy immunity from certain Albanian laws.
Upon assessment, Italy would decide whether to resettle or deport these migrants. The Albanian police would provide external security to the centers.
Albanian opposition and rights groups have criticized the plan, asserting that it could violate the country’s constitution and international law.
They argue that the agreement undermines Albania’s sovereignty over these sites and should have received approval from President Bajram Begaj.
The Supreme Court’s ruling suspended the law’s ratification, leading to uncertainty over the plan’s implementation.
Despite Prime Minister Meloni’s announcement of operational centers by next spring, the court’s decision casts doubt on its timeline.
The Italian-Albanian arrangement has been likened to the UK’s controversial strategy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, also facing legal challenges and criticism from human rights organizations.
Despite substantial funding sent by the UK government, no asylum seekers have yet been deported to Rwanda.
Source-BBC
