Italy's Offshore Migration Scheme in Albania Has Begun

[Social Media]

 

Italy has begun deporting migrants to a new offshore processing center in Albania, a move that has drawn significant attention across Europe, particularly in the UK. This strategy, aimed at addressing the ongoing migrant crisis, involves ferrying migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to facilities in Albania, where their asylum claims will be processed. The plan marks a significant shift in how European countries manage migration, with Italy becoming the first EU nation to divert asylum seekers to a non-EU country.

 

 

The new facility, located at Shengjin in northern Albania, is part of a broader €670 million, five-year agreement between Italy and Albania. The site consists of two camps where migrants will be housed while their asylum applications are reviewed by Italian authorities. Some migrants were intercepted at sea by the Italian navy’s ship, Libra, and brought to Albania. Upon arrival, the migrants will undergo medical checks, fingerprinting, and other processing before being transported to a larger camp inland, near the village of Gjader.

 

 

The conditions in the new camps have sparked controversy. Reporters who visited the camps described them as heavily secured with 20-foot-high fences, resembling prisons. Prefabricated units will house the migrants, offering basic amenities such as beds, chairs, and wardrobes. However, there are concerns over how swiftly asylum applications will be processed, as similar procedures in Italy often take months or even years. Italian officials insist that the migrants will be subjected to "accelerated procedures" in Albania, although humanitarian groups question the feasibility of this plan.

 

 

This scheme has faced significant opposition within Italy, with critics dubbing the facility “Italy’s Guantanamo.” Many MPs and human rights advocates argue that the plan violates the rights of those seeking asylum. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the government’s expenditure on the project, suggesting the funds could have been better used to address public health issues. Meanwhile, Riccardo Magi from the Europa+ party has condemned the facility, calling it a disgrace.

 

Further complicating matters, a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has cast doubt on the legality of Italy's criteria for determining "safe countries." Italy had expanded its list of countries deemed safe for repatriation, but the ECJ's decision states that a country cannot be labeled as safe unless its entire territory is free from danger. This ruling could significantly restrict Italy’s ability to deport migrants to these nations, potentially undermining the entire offshore scheme.

 

Despite the controversy, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remains resolute. She has defended the initiative, dismissing criticism on social media by emphasizing the government’s mandate to protect Italy’s borders and combat human trafficking. Meloni’s approach has been closely watched by other European leaders, including the UK's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who has expressed interest in the model as a potential solution to the UK’s own migration challenges.

 

In Albania, reactions to the scheme are mixed. While some locals welcome the jobs and investment the facility brings, others are wary of the influx of migrants. Albi, a fisherman from Shengjin, expressed concern that Albania, a small country, may struggle to manage the number of migrants. However, he acknowledged that Albania’s government likely agreed to the arrangement to strengthen its bid to join the EU.

 

The outcome of this offshore processing scheme will be closely observed across Europe as governments search for new ways to address the ongoing migration crisis. Whether it serves as a blueprint for other nations or ends in failure, Italy's partnership with Albania has already ignited heated debate on how to balance national interests with humanitarian obligations.

 

Based on a report from The Daily Telegraph 2024-10-16

 

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

Well I should imagine there is plenty of room, half of Albania appears to be on the streets of London ...

[JonnyF]

If only the UK had a strong, patriotic leader like Meloni instead of the freebie taking, granny freezing simp two tier Keir. 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

If only the UK had a strong, patriotic leader like Meloni instead of the freebie taking, granny freezing simp two tier Keir. 

Didn’t a UK Government with an unassailable majority in Parliament have a plan to do something like this and have it up and running by the end of last year?

 

What happened to that I wonder?

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Didn’t a UK Government with an unassailable majority in Parliament have a plan to do something like this and have it up and running by the end of last year?

 

What happened to that I wonder?

 

Chomps, we have already established that the Tories were weak on immigration. That's why they were voted out and we ended up with the current shower, headed by free gear Keir and his army of imbeciles who are proving to be 10x worse. 

[JonnyF]

More trouble in paradise as increasing numbers of members states grow tired of the EU's stance on uncontrolled immigration.

 

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/eu-ministers-slam-dutch-plan-to-opt-out-of-migration-rules/

 

 

[AndreasHG]

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Chomps, we have already established that the Tories were weak on immigration

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

More trouble in paradise as increasing numbers of members states grow tired of the EU's stance

 

Weak on immigration? Trouble in Paradise?

 

It's ironic that the UK had to leave the EU to achive nothing.

While the current Italian government achieved, what was sold to the UK brainwashed masses as unachievable in the EU, by firmly staying within the EU.

 

And please don't mention the ECJ ruling. Even the illiterates understood by now, that the ECJ ruling has nothing to do with the off shoring of the immigration processing.

 

[billd766]

What I find amazing is that the human rights supporters et al, never seem to take asylum seekers into their own homes and personally provide support for them, whilst down crying governments for not doing enough.

[mokwit]

13 minutes ago, billd766 said:

What I find amazing is that the human rights supporters et al, never seem to take asylum seekers into their own homes and personally provide support for them, whilst down crying governments for not doing enough.

It's #refugeeswelcomeinotherpeople'sneighbourhoods but they normally shorten it to #refugeeswelcome

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, mokwit said:

It's #refugeeswelcomeinotherpeople'sneighbourhoods but they normally shorten it to #refugeeswelcome

 

Yeah, it's normally the Champagne socialists who know that it's the ordinary working class man who will see their neighbourhoods ruined while their leafy north London suburbs will remain the same. 

[arithai12]

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

If only the UK had a strong, patriotic leader like Meloni instead of the freebie taking, granny freezing simp two tier Keir. 

I don't know much about Keir, but I can tell you that your assessment of Meloni is far from the mark. She is trying hard to please the powers that be so she can follow in the footsteps of Von Der Leyen, Rutte, Lagarde, Guterres & co. If you see Italy's response to Israel's attack on Unifil  (incl. italian forces) in Lebanon, she can hardly be called patriotic.

 

As for the OP, I read that today 16 migrants were transferred to Albania, while 1,000 landed in Lampedusa. A lot of money for very little achievement, I'd say.

[Purdey]

Countries are willing to spend millions to take these stopgap measures, knowing that the same refugees will return when sent back to their home countries. Why isn't more attention paid to developing the economies and stopping wars in their countries of origin so that the people don't want to move?

[CG1 Blue]

1 hour ago, arithai12 said:

As for the OP, I read that today 16 migrants were transferred to Albania, while 1,000 landed in Lampedusa. A lot of money for very little achievement, I'd say.

It's a start, it's early days. The main thing is it will act as a deterrent, in the same way migrants started diverting to Ireland when Rwanda was a possibility for the UK. 

 

You watch the number of migrants heading to Italy drop off once the scheme gets established.  

 

That is unless the ECJ scupper the plan

[billd766]

3 hours ago, mokwit said:

It's #refugeeswelcomeinotherpeople'sneighbourhoods but they normally shorten it to #refugeeswelcome

Thank you.

 

Perhaps it should be shortened to NIMBY.

[daveAustin]

14 hours ago, Social Media said:

Reporters who visited the camps described them as heavily secured with 20-foot-high fences, resembling prisons

And that is how it should be until it is established who everyone is and what they are up to. They should be treated as potential criminals until it can be proven which ones are genuine asylum seekers, with all others to be deported immediately. Many of these are single, able males up to no good. If it were left to the bleeding heart liberals, all EU countries would eventually be overrun and you can bet your bottom dollar they will never have to rub shoulders with these people.

 

Well done, Italy. Do not listen to the EU airheads!

[sikishrory]

7 hours ago, JonnyF said:

More trouble in paradise as increasing numbers of members states grow tired of the EU's stance on uncontrolled immigration.

 

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/eu-ministers-slam-dutch-plan-to-opt-out-of-migration-rules/

 

 

Apparently they get a 20k fine from the euro union for each refugee they don't take or something.

No wonder the continent gets more unstable every year.

[nauseus]

10 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Didn’t a UK Government with an unassailable majority in Parliament have a plan to do something like this and have it up and running by the end of last year?

 

What happened to that I wonder?

 

Something like this? No comparison so irrelevant. And, as we can see, strong, patriotic leaders can be far more effective than weak and wobbly majorities. 

[nauseus]

6 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

 

Weak on immigration? Trouble in Paradise?

 

It's ironic that the UK had to leave the EU to achive nothing.

While the current Italian government achieved, what was sold to the UK brainwashed masses as unachievable in the EU, by firmly staying within the EU.

 

And please don't mention the ECJ ruling. Even the illiterates understood by now, that the ECJ ruling has nothing to do with the off shoring of the immigration processing.

 

 

Another load of cobras.

[nauseus]

5 hours ago, arithai12 said:

I don't know much about Keir, but I can tell you that your assessment of Meloni is far from the mark. She is trying hard to please the powers that be so she can follow in the footsteps of Von Der Leyen, Rutte, Lagarde, Guterres & co. If you see Italy's response to Israel's attack on Unifil  (incl. italian forces) in Lebanon, she can hardly be called patriotic.

 

As for the OP, I read that today 16 migrants were transferred to Albania, while 1,000 landed in Lampedusa. A lot of money for very little achievement, I'd say.

 

 

Not news really. Most of the migrants from Africa access Italy through Lampedusa, and have been for at least 20 years.  

 

Let's see if she can arrange to send migrants directly from Lampedusa to Albania before you "assess" Meloni.

 

[nauseus]

5 hours ago, Purdey said:

Countries are willing to spend millions to take these stopgap measures, knowing that the same refugees will return when sent back to their home countries. Why isn't more attention paid to developing the economies and stopping wars in their countries of origin so that the people don't want to move?

 

Well that has been tried, financially, for decades. Trillions of $ have been lost to corruption while most countries that should have benefitted have actually become poorer post the colonial era. Sad but true.

[john donson]

Europe should have a sign : WE ARE FULL, go to a MUSLIM country for help... it is not sustainable...

[Sigmund]

The rest of Europe must follow, if not it can end up in civil unrest on streets as people all over are fed up ...even the legally integrated foreigners in most countries are fed up of the other migrants forcing their way in and giving a bad image of all foreigners including those who are legal.

 

Europe must find proper leaders to stop encouraging these poor people in being exploited by rogue agents who ask huge sums of money to cross them over. The mafia in Italy and France is known to be in league with intrests that facilitate the passage of migrants. As migrants mean cheap unaccounted labor for the tomato fields in italy, to selling drugs in Paris or Marseille.

 

As for the humanitarian ships that rescue the migrant boats, by all means you must save anybody at sea. No arguing and no discriminating what so ever. You must rescue and give them all shelter and aid needed, as they are humain beings.

 

But the illegals rescued on boats,  must be taken back to their port of Origin and not bought into Schengen.

 

If done so, the entire ship crew would need to be jailed as one is not sure which foreign interests are financing these huge organised modern humanitarian vessels that bring in the migrants to Europe.

 

Time to open centers in Rwanda and other places in Africa who will be more then willing to "help", for a bunch of millions per year.

[mokwit]

10 hours ago, Sigmund said:

As for the humanitarian ships that rescue the migrant boats, by all means you must save anybody at sea. No arguing and no discriminating what so ever. You must rescue and give them all shelter and aid needed, as they are humain beings.

They wait at pre arranged spots and the smugglers unload and then tow the empty boats back for the next load. Nobody is being rescued.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/16/2024 at 9:30 AM, Social Media said:

Reporters who visited the camps described them as heavily secured with 20-foot-high fences, resembling prisons.

and what's wrong with that. They are criminals, after all, given they are trying to illegally enter a country without permission.

Personally I'd have chosen a less welcoming country than Albania.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Purdey said:

Countries are willing to spend millions to take these stopgap measures, knowing that the same refugees will return when sent back to their home countries. Why isn't more attention paid to developing the economies and stopping wars in their countries of origin so that the people don't want to move?

It's more likely they are overpopulated, and will never be fixed. Solve the overpopulation first.

[Callmeishmael]

21 hours ago, Purdey said:

Why isn't more attention paid to developing the economies and stopping wars in their countries of origin so that the people don't want to move?

The US and UK have been doing something like that for years. 

 

It never works out the way they think it will.