The migration agreement between Italy and Albania took a step forward on Wednesday when the Italian Chamber of Deputies (lower house) approved a bill to ratify the agreement in Rome.
According to the bill, two migrant reception centers will be established in Albania to limit irregular migration from North Africa across the Mediterranean to Europe.
The deal now needs to be approved by the Italian Senate, the Senate and the smaller of both chambers.
About two months ago, Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama signed a declaration of intent to set up a reception center.
According to the plan, people picked up by authorities on ships in international waters en route to Italy will be transferred to these centers. Asylum applications will be reviewed there, allowing for faster repatriation if necessary.
The center will be located in the Adriatic port of St. Approximately 3,000 people will be held there at the same time. The centers will be managed by Italy and are expected to be operational as early as this year.
Albania is expected to be involved in monitoring the center. However, Albania’s Constitutional Court blocked parliament’s ratification late last year after 30 opposition members filed a motion calling the migration agreement with Italy unconstitutional.
The judgment is not final. The case is currently being heard in court and a decision is expected on Monday.
