UN to Monitor Italy-Albania Migrant Accord

ROME – The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) has agreed to monitor the implementation of Italy's controversial agreement to process asylum requests at holding centers in Albania for the first three months. While UNHCR was not a party to the deal and has expressed reservations, it aims to ensure the rights and dignity of migrants are upheld. The agency will provide guidance on asylum rights and verify that procedures align with international human rights standards. The five-year agreement, signed last year, allows Albania to accommodate up to 3,000 male migrants rescued at sea while Italy expedites their asylum claims. Initially set to commence this month, the deal's launch has been delayed due to construction holdups at the new detention centers in Albania. Italy's right-wing government promotes the agreement as a model for sharing Europe's migrant responsibilities and as a deterrent for potential refugees, a stance supported by the European Commission. However, human rights organizations criticize the arrangement, arguing that it represents an outsourcing of Italy's legal obligations to process asylum requests. UNHCR's monitoring will be funded by independent sources to maintain impartiality, with a report and recommendations expected after three months. Concerns have been raised regarding the adequacy of onboard screenings for vulnerable migrants and their access to legal counsel in Albania, alongside calls for increased investment in migrant processing facilities in Italy. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi highlighted a 20% rise in repatriations of non-asylum-seeking migrants this year, underscoring the ongoing challenges in managing migration in Italy.