ISTANBUL – EU lawmakers on Wednesday criticized the migration agreement between Italy and Albania, asserting that it undermines EU values and violates migrants’ rights.
During a European Parliament plenary session, several MEPs emphasized that Italy’s deal with a third country weakens the EU’s common migration policies. Spanish MEP Estrella Galan Perez stated, “The agreement violates the right to asylum and international law, breaching the principle of non-refoulement.” She condemned the practice of sending migrants to neighboring countries as “illegal, immoral, and inhumane,” describing plans to build detention facilities for refugees in Europe as “barbaric.”
Ana Catarina Mendes from the S&D party expressed concern over the Italy-Albania agreement, urging that silence is not an option. French MEP Fabienne Keller argued that such agreements compromise European security, stating, “I am firmly against so-called innovative solutions, such as the externalization of return policies in distant hubs.”
Italian MEP Cecilia Strada labeled the deal with Tirana as “a threat to human rights” that could negatively impact European economies. This agreement marks a significant setback for the five-year pact between Rome and Tirana, which includes plans for two detention centers in Albania to hold up to 3,000 migrants monthly, intercepted by the Italian coast guard in international waters. Migrants may either apply for asylum in Italy or be returned to their home countries if their requests are denied.
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