Photo credit: Euro News
Following Albanian judge’s ruling against their detention, migrants sent from Italy to Albania were returned to Italy on Saturday.
Sixteen men from Bangladesh and Egypt arrived at the Albanian port of Shengjin on Wednesday under an arrangement between Italy and Albania. Under the arrangement, the men were to be housed in the non-EU country in Italian-run centres until their cases were handled remotely by Italian Judges.
Apart from the four immediately sent back because they were identified as “vulnerable,” the remaining sixteen were sent back on Saturday on an Italian Coast Guard vessel, which will take them to Italy.
According to AFP, police had escorted them from a temporary reception centre to Shengjin port, where they boarded the ship.
Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni signed the deal in November with her Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama.
The five-year agreement, estimated to cost Italy 160 million euros annually, calls for male asylum-seekers intercepted by Italian navy or coast guard vessels in international waters – but within Italy’s search and rescue area – to be held in Albania.
From there, it will be determined which individuals are from so-called “safe” countries, allowing them for fast-track repatriation.
However, Italian judges on Friday ruled against the detention of the migrants, saying a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice meant they do not meet the criteria for detention in Albania and must instead be brought to Italy.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Rome wouldn’t appeal the court’s decision.
