Italy's Lower Chamber Approves Migrant Housing Deal with Albania

The controversial deal, now advancing to the Senate, could see Albania shelter up to 36,000 migrants during their asylum processing.

Italy's lower chamber of parliament has approved a deal with Albania to house up to 36,000 migrants during the processing of their asylum requests.
The proposal, announced by Premier Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in November 2023, now advances to the Senate.
The deal is part of Italy's efforts to share the migration burden with the rest of Europe and has been endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Human rights groups and Italy's center-left opposition have criticized the deal, claiming Italy is outsourcing its international obligations and branding it as an expensive exercise in propaganda.
Albania's constitutional court suspended ratification of the deal in December, pending a review of its constitutionality.