TIRANA, November 23 – The agreement signed between Italy and Albania for housing immigrants from Africa in Albanian territory is part of the draft work calendar of the Assembly for the period November 27-December 22.
This agreement has been put on the agenda in the Laws Committee and will then be reviewed by the Assembly.
On November 6, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed in Rome the agreement for the construction of two centers for housing immigrants in Albania. According to the agreement, 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 expenses for this political decision so far will be borne by Italy, which will pay Albania the first fund in the amount of 16.5 million euros, within 3 months. It is anticipated that over 100 million euros will be frozen in a second level bank account as a guarantee.
Italy, meanwhile, assumes all expenses for hospital care according to Albanian legislation, after the administration of hospital treatments of the Albanian side. The immigrants will wait for the answer for asylum from the Italian authorities in the structure that will be built by the Italians.
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.
Two days ago, the House of Representatives in the Italian Parliament approved the resolution of the Italian majority regarding the agreement with Albania on the issue of immigrants. The votes in favor were 189 in favor and 126 against; the votes against were all from the opposition that criticized the agreement. The text of the resolution commits the Italian government “to adopt any necessary initiative, including a ratification bill, for the immediate implementation of the agreement.” /argumentum.al
