Arrr! Italy's scurvy lower chamber be givin' aye to a grand migrant deal with Albania, pushin' the proposal further to the Senate!
2024-01-24
Arrr, me hearties! 'Tis been heard that the lower chamber o' parliament in Italy has given its hearty approval to a pact betwixt the government and Albania. This pact be meanin' that the fine land of Albania will be offerin' safe harbors to them migrants durin' the processin' of their asylum requests, as announced by them officials.
Italy's lower chamber of parliament has approved a unique agreement with Albania to house migrants while their asylum requests are being processed. This move is part of Premier Giorgia Meloni's efforts to share the burden of migration with other European countries. The proposal, which was passed with 155 votes in favor, will now go to the Senate, where Meloni's right-wing forces also have a comfortable majority.Last November, Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the groundbreaking initiative. Under the agreement, Albania will provide shelter for up to 36,000 migrants for one year in two centers, while Italy accelerates the processing of their asylum requests. Italy has been overwhelmed by the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants each year and has long sought solidarity from other EU nations. Albania, which is hoping to join the EU, has been a strong supporter of Italy's bid.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has endorsed the deal as an important initiative that requires "out-of-the-box" thinking to deal with the migration issue. However, human rights groups have expressed concerns that Italy is outsourcing its international obligations. Italy's center-left opposition has criticized the deal as an expensive exercise in propaganda ahead of European elections and accused Italy of turning Albania into its "Guantanamo."
In December, Albania's constitutional court suspended the ratification of the deal pending a review of its constitutionality. However, Rama is confident that the court will find no violation. The agreement between Italy and Albania is seen as a significant step towards addressing the migration crisis in Europe, but it remains to be seen how it will be implemented and whether it will alleviate the burden on Italy.