The Italian Senate has ratified with 93 votes in favor and 61 against out of 155 senators present the protocol for sending to Albania about 3 thousand asylum seekers from Africa, Asia or the Middle East who are rescued at sea. The majority of Prime Minister Meloni rejected the amendments of the left opposition.
With the vote of the Senate, the plan for the arrival of refugees to our country in the two centers in the port of Shengjin and in Gjadër is starting to be implemented.
On January 24, the Chamber of Deputies approved this protocol with a majority of votes.
In the Albanian Parliament, this protocol has not yet been approved, even though the Constitutional Court gave the green light to ratification on January 29.
The Constitutional Court considered the Migration Protocol in accordance with the Constitution because it does not change the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania.
The Migration Protocol with Italy was signed between Prime Minister Edi Rama and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on November 6, 2023.
Regarding the related costs, the draft law provides that the Italian side, within 90 days from the entry into force of the agreement, credits 16.5 million Euros as an advance of a large amount of reimbursements related to the first year of application.
Afterwards, the Albanian side will communicate to the Italian side the amount of expenses incurred. Specifically, the law authorizes expenditures for the year 2024 aimed at creating the necessary structures and instrumental equipment, amounting to about 47.7 million Euros. A fund of 89.1 million Euros has been created for this year and 118.5 million Euros for each of the years 2025-2028.