A ship with 15 migrants rejected for asylum in Italy docked on June 26 at the Port of Shëngjin. According to the procedure, after checks, they are expected to be moved to the Gjadri camp. This is the fourth group transferred to Albania after the change of function of the camp.
From the Mediterranean to repatriation awaiting the European Court
The Gjadri camp was originally designed for illegal immigrants rescued by Italian authorities in the Mediterranean. It was expected to process their asylum applications through expedited procedures. But after the initial model failed, the camp is now being used for those who have been refused asylum or residence in Italy.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that a total of 125 people have been brought to Albania. Almost half have been deported, some have been released, and about 30 are still in the camp. According to deportation procedures, the stay can last up to 18 months.
The European Court of Justice, based in Luxembourg, is expected to rule on the legality of the Rama-Meloni agreement. The decision, scheduled for February 2025, has been postponed until the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, the Italian Supreme Court has also referred the case to Luxembourg. Two immigrants detained in Albania awaiting deportation by Italian authorities have filed appeals against the refusal of asylum.
The Italian judges argued that the Italy-Albania protocol conflicts with the returns directive. According to them, Albania does not offer a more efficient system for repatriation than Italy.
Rama and Meloni, criticism of others, justification for themselves
The legitimacy of the Gjadri camp is still unclear, but Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the agreement, calling it unique and special.
With his counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, he criticized British plans to apply a similar migrant transfer agreement.
According to Rama, the agreement with Italy is justified by "special relationship". He labeled the United Kingdom's interest as "request to dump immigrants in another country."
"Italy has been for us since we emerged from the hell of being the North Korea of Europe," he added.
But Albanian and Italian activists have considered the operation of the camp illegal. They have denounced the difficult conditions in which the migrants are held.
Kristina Millona says over 40 incidents have been reported in the first month of operation alone. The cases include self-harm, lack of information, no legal guarantees and degrading conditions.
On May 31, a protest was organized in Gjadra to honor the immigrant Hamid Badoui. He committed suicide in an Italian repatriation center and is said to have said: “Better prison than CPR in Albania.”
Read also:
- Gjadra, activists commemorate immigrant Hamid Badoui
- Human Rights Watch: "The Balkans are not a warehouse for migrants"
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
