Italy and Albania missed a deadline to open a controversial camp for migrants in Albania, where they will stay until their asylum applications are processed. This camp is part of a debated agreement between Rome and Albania to manage migrants rescued in Italian waters.
The plan involves transferring the most vulnerable migrants to Italy while others are sent to the Albanian port of Shengjin. From there, they are moved to a former military base in Gjader, where their asylum claims will be reviewed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the complex would be operational by August 1. However, the reality was different, with only a few housing units ready in the Gjader camp, and no clear completion date in sight.
Migrants sent to Gjader will live in small units surrounded by high walls until the Italian courts process their requests. Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, stated that the facility would initially accommodate around 1,000 people, expanding to 3,000. Around ten judges are expected to conduct hearings via video conference with asylum seekers in Albania.
Human rights groups have labeled the project as “illegal” under international law. Despite this, the camp is seen as a potential economic boost for northern Albania, an area with significant population decline due to migration. The Gjader area, now home to only about 2,000 people, will benefit from new job opportunities created by the camp.
Local leader Aleksander Preka views the camp as an opportunity, noting that Albanian and Italian workers are already supporting local businesses. Job advertisements for roles such as nurses, cleaners, and psychologists, offering competitive salaries, have appeared in the village.
The Italian ambassador promised to help resolve local power grid issues, furthering local development. Preka emphasized the community’s acceptance of the migrants, stating that locals are not racist or opposed to their arrival.
Despite the economic potential, the migrants will not interact with locals, as they will be confined within the facility’s security fences, guarded by police. Human rights organizations have criticized the lack of transparency and the limited protections for asylum seekers due to Albania’s non-EU status. The International Rescue Committee’s Flaminia Delle Cese expressed concerns about detaining people seeking refuge, highlighting the potential violation of their fundamental rights.