The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has announced that it will oversee the implementation of the Italy-Albania migration protocol to ensure it aligns with human rights standards and international law. This protocol, approved by Albania’s Constitutional Court in January, allows Italy to process migrants seeking asylum in the Italian peninsula from Albania.
The UNHCR will take on the role of monitoring and advising all parties involved in this protocol. Although the agency was not involved in the negotiation process, it has communicated with the Italian Minister of the Interior through a series of letters, agreeing to monitor the asylum process for three months. During this period, the UNHCR aims to enhance the protection of asylum seekers and refugees by identifying and reporting any inconsistencies with international law to the relevant authorities. After the three-month monitoring period, the UNHCR will provide recommendations to both the Italian and Albanian governments, as well as other interested parties.
This monitoring is part of the UNHCR’s mandate to ensure the proper application of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which outlines essential rights and principles for refugees and asylum seekers. The Italian-Albanian agreement is expected to accommodate up to 3,000 migrants at any given time, potentially significantly impacting migration trends in Europe.
The protocol has faced criticism from international organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW), which labeled it a “model of mismanagement and a blueprint for abuse.” Despite the controversy, the Albanian and Italian governments are moving forward with the policy, although it has not yet become operational.