Albania’s Constitutional Court is scheduled to review on Thursday a controversial agreement reached with Italy to open two storage centers on Albanian territory for migrants rescued in Italian waters.
The agreement, signed last year by the Italian and Albanian prime ministers, was criticized by opposition parties and rights groups in both countries, resulting in a legal challenge in Tirana’s Supreme Court.
“This agreement, which requires the prior approval of the president of the republic, also violates international standards regarding the rights of migrants,” Albania’s opposition coalition said in a statement.
Albania’s right-wing opposition also criticized Prime Minister Edi Rama over the lack of transparency and consultation surrounding the deal, calling it “irresponsible and dangerous for national security.”
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In December, the Constitutional Court halted the process of ratifying the agreement in Albania’s parliament, where the Rama Party holds a firm majority.
Court proceedings are scheduled to begin at 10am (9am GMT).
The justices have until March 6 to issue a ruling, but a decision could come well before that deadline “given the benefits of this case to both Albania and Italy,” said a person familiar with the matter. told AFP.
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The agreement allows two centers to be established near Shengjin Port where migrants can register for asylum, and a facility in the same area to house people awaiting responses to their applications.
According to official estimates, the two Italian-run centers can receive up to 3,000 migrants a month.
Albanian authorities said the agreement was in line with previous treaties signed with the Italian government, international law governing the rights of asylum seekers, and the country’s constitution.
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“We have no intention of selling Albanian land,” Interior Minister Taulant Bala told AFP in an interview last month.
“We are offering this land to Italy, just as we normally do when establishing an embassy, for example.”
Jurisdiction within the camp will belong to Italy, but the land itself will remain in Albanian hands, he added.
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According to Albanian authorities, Italy will fully pay for the construction of the two centers and the necessary infrastructure, as well as costs related to the safety and medical care of asylum seekers.
Italy has seen a dramatic increase in the number of migrant arrivals in recent months, with the number expected to reach 145,000 in 2023, compared to 88,000 the year before.
Prime Minister Rama described the deal as a show of “solidarity” with Italy, which opened its doors to thousands of Albanians after the fall of the communist regime in the early 1990s.
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