Albania's parliament has approved a deal under which it can build processing centers for migrants run by Italy. The deal has been slammed by the opposition and rights groups.
Albania's parliament on Thursday ratified a migration deal with Italy allowing it to host two holding centers for migrants rescued in Italian waters.
The deal was approved by 77 members of the 140-seat legislature.
What does the deal entail?
Under the five-year agreement, Italy will open two camps in the Balkan country, one of which would screen migrants on arrival and the other would detain them while their asylum applications are processed.
Migrants would then either be allowed to enter Italy or be returned to their country of origin.
The camps would hold up to 3,000 migrants. As processing of asylum requests will likely take a month or so, up to 36,000 asylum seekers could be sent to Albania per year.
The agreement was signed in November between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, who is trying to make tackling migration more of a joint endeavor by European countries as her country faces growing numbers of migrant arrivals.
Widespread criticism
Although the deal has been endorsed by European Commission President Ursulavon der Leyen, human rights groups have vehemently criticized it.
Albania's opposition also reiterated its rejection of the agreement following Thursday's vote.
"The migrant deal harms national security, territorial integrity and the public's interest," right-wing opposition leader Gazmend Bardhi told reporters.
Source: Dw
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