TIRANA, November 15 – The Council of Ministers gave the green light on Wednesday to the agreement for immigrants with Italy. It is now expected that the agreement will be passed to the 140-member assembly and discussions will begin in the parliamentary committees and then it will be voted by the majority.
“On the basis of Article 100 of the Constitution and Article 17 of Law No. 43/2016, “On International Agreements in the Republic of Albania”, with the proposal of the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior, the Council of Ministers
Decided: The proposal of the draft law “On the ratification of the protocol, between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the government of the Italian Republic, for the strengthening of cooperation in the field of migration” for review and approval in the Assembly of the Republic of Albania, according to the text and the report that are attached to this decision. This decision comes into effect immediately,” it is said in the government announcement.
On November 6, 2023, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed in Rome the agreement for the construction in Albania of two centers for housing immigrants. According to the agreement which was concluded in full secrecy, the landing port for the immigrants will be Shengjin, while Gjadri will be the camp where their accommodation will be built. The maximum capacity of the number that the center will host in Albania cannot be more than 3 thousand immigrants per month.
The immigrants will wait for the answer for asylum from the Italian authorities in the premises that will be built by the Italians. The expenses will be borne by Italy and according to the calculations the neighboring country will pay Albania the first fund in the amount of 16.5 million euros within 3 months. The duration of the agreement will be 5 years, but it can be automatically extended for another 5 years if one of the parties does not communicate at least six months before the end date of its intention not to renew this protocol. The agreement is expected to pass in the 140mwmbwr –assembly as Socialists have the majority of the votes. /argumentum.al