Next week, the first migrants will be accommodated in Gjadër, but no ceremony with a ribbon-cutting or speeches from authorities is planned.
This was stated by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who reiterated that the centers established in Albania do not have barbed wire and do not resemble prisons, but are similar to camps in Italy for assisting migrants seeking asylum.
Minister Piantedosi clarified that migrants can apply for international protection and receive it within a few days.
The migrant centers in Shëngjin and Gjadër have been handed over to Italian authorities and are ready to open their doors. These centers will also have UNHCR staff to monitor the respect of refugee rights.
The agreement between Albania and Italy regarding migrants was signed in November 2023 and will be in effect for five years with the possibility of renewal.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has clearly stated that this is the first and only agreement of its kind signed with an EU country, although he noted that requests have come from other countries as well.
