An Italian naval ship has delivered 49 migrants to the Albanian port of Shengjin as part of a contentious agreement between Italy and Albania, originally established in November 2023. This marks the third attempt by Italy to process asylum claims in Albania following previous legal challenges.
The migrants will be received at a local accommodation center after being disembarked. The Italian government aims to divert migrants to Albania for processing, a move that has drawn criticism from rights groups and scrutiny from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Italian judges previously halted migrant transfers, citing safety concerns regarding the migrants' home countries. The ECJ is expected to review the legality of Italy's plan in the coming weeks, determining its compliance with EU law.
The agreement allows for up to 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian coastguard each month to be sheltered in Albania, with the possibility of asylum in Italy or repatriation. So far this year, Italy has seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals, with 3,704 reported compared to 1,305 during the same period last year.