Italy’s Meloni Calls Plan to Send Migrants to Albania Courageous, Unprecedented

Italy is setting an example for the rest of Europe by sending migrants to third countries to process their asylum requests, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday, dismissing concerns their human rights were being violated.

A first group of 16 migrants is headed to Albania aboard an Italian navy ship, as Meloni’s controversial plan to use a centre outside of the European Union’s borders to consider their eligibility to enter Italy comes into force after several months delay.

“It is a new, courageous, unprecedented path, but one that perfectly reflects the European spirit and has all the makings of a path to be taken with other non-EU nations as well,” Meloni told the upper house Senate.

Italy has said only “non-vulnerable” men coming from countries classified as safe would be sent to Albania.

The first group of migrants, comprising 10 Bangladeshis and six Egyptians, was picked up at sea on Sunday aboard boats that had set sail from Libya. {snip}

Because they come from countries that have been deemed safe by Rome, their chances of receiving asylum are extremely slight and Italy has said all those who fail to make the grade will be repatriated.

{snip}