Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has declared that Italy has become a model for managing illegal immigration within the European Union, thanks to a new approach that includes cooperation with non-EU countries like Albania. Speaking before the Italian Senate ahead of the European Council meeting on October 17-18, Meloni emphasized a significant 60% drop in irregular migrant landings in 2024 compared to the previous year.
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| Screenshot as Meloni speaks about the first emmigrants to land to Albania in the Italian Parliament |
A key component of this strategy, according to Meloni, is the Italy-Albania Protocol, which allows asylum claims to be processed on Albanian soil under Italian and EU jurisdiction. Two operational centers in Shëngjin and Gjadër are already facilitating the implementation of this protocol. Meloni expressed gratitude to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government for their cooperation, highlighting that this approach is a bold and effective way to address migration.
"This new approach reflects the European spirit and has all the credentials to be extended to other non-EU countries. I thank Prime Minister Rama and the Albanian government for trusting in this initiative," Meloni said, adding that this is an important step in combating human traffickers and preventing sea tragedies.
Meloni further pointed out that this cooperation between Italy and Albania serves as a model for managing migration flows and is contributing to improving the situation across the Mediterranean.
Additionally, she mentioned that informal meetings among EU countries will be held to discuss the broader effects of migration and to refine this joint approach further.