The memorandum of understanding between Italy and Albania on migrants “cannot be compared to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda.”
“There is no outsourcing of the management of asylum claims to a third country. And there is no deviation from internationally guaranteed rights.”
This is what the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, said while communicating with the Chamber of Deputies about the latest agreement with Tirana.
“Albania will soon join the European Union and is part of the Council of Europe. Exceptions would be impossible,” he added.
“The protocol – Tajani continued – stipulates that the two centers cannot have a total of more than 3,000 immigrants at the same time and that immigrants can arrive at the Albanian port only by ships of the Italian authorities, involved in rescue operations.
It will not be possible to tow the smugglers’ boats, nor to direct the boats managed by non-governmental organizations towards Albania. Immigrants will have the same treatment provided by Italian and European regulations,” said Tajani.