European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the EU could “draw lessons” from Italy’s controversial offshore migrant processing policy in Albania, as EU leaders convene for a summit focused on migration. Ahead of the Brussels gathering, von der Leyen announced plans for new legislation aimed at increasing the deportation of migrants.
This week, Italy initiated the transfer of migrants to a processing center in Albania, with 16 men sent to the Albanian port of Shengjin. However, it was revealed shortly after their arrival that two of the individuals were minors, and two others had medical vulnerabilities, leading to their return to Italy.
Other EU nations are exploring similar strategies for migrant processing in third-party countries. Recently, the Dutch government expressed interest in a proposal to relocate rejected asylum seekers to Uganda.
The migration issue is a significant topic at this week’s summit, especially as von der Leyen begins her second term as European Commission president. In her correspondence to member states, she highlighted that the current return rate for irregular migrants from EU countries stands at merely 20%, meaning the vast majority of those ordered to leave are remaining in the EU.
Von der Leyen urged member states to respect each other’s decisions regarding migrants to prevent individuals from exploiting gaps in the system to evade deportation. Under the Italy-Albania agreement, some rescued migrants in the Mediterranean will be sent to Albania for asylum assessments, while two processing centers, financed by the Italian government and operating under Italian law, will facilitate this process.
These centers, costing approximately €650 million, were originally scheduled to open last spring but faced delays. They will accommodate migrants as Italy processes their asylum applications, although pregnant women, children, and vulnerable individuals will be excluded from the arrangement.
The agreement has drawn criticism from opponents of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, with accusations that the scheme is “cruel, useless, and expensive.” Furthermore, NGOs like Doctors Without Borders have raised concerns about potential human rights violations resulting from the deal.
Protests have emerged, with civil rights activists gathering at the Italian-built center in Shengjin, displaying banners that read: “The European dream ends here.” In contrast, Prime Minister Meloni defended the initiative, describing it as a “new, courageous, unprecedented path” that epitomizes the European spirit.
The effects of the Albania agreement will be scrutinized by various EU member states, many of which have responded to the increasing support for far-right parties by tightening their migration policies. Recent weeks have seen Germany reintroduce land border checks, France announce plans for stricter immigration laws, and Poland propose a temporary ban on asylum for individuals crossing its borders.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the controversial measure aims to prevent Belarus from destabilizing Poland by allowing significant inflows of migrants. Meanwhile, incidents of grisly murders in France and Germany have spurred demands for stricter immigration enforcement, highlighting the urgency of addressing the migrant situation within the EU.
Last month, 15 EU member states endorsed a proposal by Austria and the Netherlands aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the deportation system.
