Albania's Parliament has ratified the migration agreement signed with Italy on November 6, 2023, with 77 votes in favor.
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| The Parliament of Albania in the voting cast, February 22, 2024 |
According to the Agreement on Strengthening Cooperation in the Field of Migration, Italy will send migrants intercepted and rescued in the Mediterranean Sea to Albania, starting from the spring of this year. This agreement was also approved in Italy by the Lower House of Parliament and the Senate.
In addition to the deputies of the Socialist Party in power, three deputies of the opposition Party for Justice, Integration, and Unity (PDIU) voted in favor of this agreement.
PDIU deputy Mesila Doda stated that everyone should have voted for the agreement, as Italy is a friendly country that has always helped Albania in times of crisis.
Meanwhile, deputies belonging to the Democratic Party boycotted the parliamentary session due to objections to a draft law presented in Parliament for criminal amnesty. Members of the "Reconstruction" party also did not participate in the vote on the agreement, although they were present in the chamber.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama did not attend the parliamentary session, but he expressed on social media that Albania acted as a member state of the European Union.
"No country can solve such a challenge alone; no rhetoric or quick solution can change its magnitude, and no old glory or way of thinking can ensure salvation from facing what is coming on all fronts," Rama said.
The agreement stipulates that Albania will host up to 36,000 migrants per year in two centers within the country, while Italy will review their asylum applications.
Opposition parties, both in Albania and Italy, have opposed the agreement. In Albania, the opposition referred the agreement to the Constitutional Court, claiming it violated the Constitution. The Court dismissed the opposition's request, paving the way for the agreement's ratification in Parliament.
In Italy, the opposition considered the agreement an expensive propaganda move by the Government ahead of the European elections to be held later in the year, and a shameful attempt to turn Albania into an "Italian Guantanamo."
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has supported the agreement, calling it an important initiative and a creative idea to manage migration. However, human rights groups have expressed concern about the agreement, arguing that Italy is avoiding its international obligations.
A draft law for criminal amnesty, which would benefit around 700 pre-trial detainees and convicts, failed to be adopted in the Albanian Parliament. The Speaker of Parliament, Lindita Nikolla, announced the withdrawal of the draft law from the agenda. The withdrawal was due to the failure to secure the necessary 84 votes.
During the seven-minute session, Democratic Party deputy Gazment Bardhi accused the Socialist Party of seeking to amnesty corrupt former officials through this draft law. These allegations were rejected by Minister of Justice Ulsi Manja, who stated that there would be no amnesty for corruption and organized crime. However, Manja expressed optimism that the majority would secure the votes and the amnesty would be approved soon.
During discussions in parliamentary committees, the Democratic Party conditioned its vote for amnesty with the addition of an amendment. The Democratic Party has called for full amnesty for all protesters under investigation or convicted for actions in political protests organized between October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, also requesting amnesty for those convicted of "assault in the line of duty." This proposal was partially accepted by the parliamentary majority, which demanded that those convicted or facing criminal charges for violence in protests, arson, or violence against police officers not be granted amnesty.
"I do not want Lulzim Basha's conditional votes. I want the votes of the Albanian Parliament to read the law. The votes are there; this law will have over 90 votes. There are responsible deputies in that chamber," said Minister Manja.
During the plenary session, deputies approved changes to the Law on Protected Areas. According to the changes, in some of the territories classified as protected areas, accommodation structures for tourism or agrotourism development may be built, with the condition of maintaining a balance between nature and activities.
The approval of the legislative changes was opposed by opposition deputies, who stated that these changes would pave the way for strategic investments, serving the interests of a group of businessmen.
Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro stated that the Government's proposals are in line with EU directives.
"By clearly defining the areas where intervention can be made with the need for community development, oriented towards tourism, agrotourism, in areas where, in addition to friendly intervention with the environment, structures can be offered to guarantee the highest quality of hospitality," Kumbaro said.