Italy's Migration Deal with Albania Raises Legal, Ethical Concerns Amid Possible Violations of International Law

Agreement to Build Migrant Centers in Albania Criticized for Potential Human Rights Abuses; Experts Question Feasibility and Legality of Offshoring Asylum Applications amid a Surge in Migrant Arrivals in Italy.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has signed an agreement with Albania to outsource the processing and containment of migrants. This move came as a surprise to many in the political sphere and questions have been raised about its legality and ethicality.
As part of the deal, Italy will finance the construction of two migrant centers in Albania which will host up to 3,000 migrants at a time. These centers will be under Italian jurisdiction with Albanian police officers providing external security.
Italy's deal with Albania has sparked concerns among human rights advocates who argue that such efforts undermine the right of asylum seekers to apply for asylum regardless of where they are from or how they arrive. The deal also possibly violates international law if Italy sends migrants found in EU’s territorial waters to a non-EU nation like Albania.
Albania, a candidate for EU membership, asserts that it has agreed to the deal without any financial incentive from Italy but out of goodwill. However, the deal would also allow Albania to deport the migrants if their asylum applications are rejected by Italy.
The move is seen as part of an increasing trend among European nations to outsource or offshore the management of migration flows. Similar proposals have been made by the British government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and by Greece to turn some of its islands into reception centers.