Italian authorities announced on April 11 that they have transferred 40 migrants to accommodation centers in Albania. This follows Italy’s decision to remove the migrants, who had been denied asylum, from the country.
This marks the first time that an EU member state has sent migrants to a non-EU country after their asylum requests were rejected.
The Italian government has not disclosed the nationalities of the migrants or provided further details about them.
The migrants will stay in two centers in Albania, both managed by Italy—one located in the port of Shëngjin and the other in Gjadër. These centers were established to house migrants rescued at sea by Italy while their asylum applications are processed.
The refugee camp in Gjadër, Albania, is part of an agreement with Italy.
Since the inauguration of these centers in October of last year, Italian courts have prevented authorities from using them, and small groups of migrants have been returned to Italy.
It remains unclear how long migrants, whose asylum requests have been denied, will stay in Albania. Under Italian law, they can be arrested and detained for up to 18 months while their deportation procedures are processed.
Last month, the Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, approved a decree expanding the use of migrant centers in Albania, allowing those who have been denied asylum and have been issued deportation orders to be sent there.
