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| Three Italian carabinieri in the refugee camp in Gjadër |
In a controversial move, the Italian Ministry of the Interior has allocated nearly €9 million to provide lodging and amenities for 295 Italian police officers working in Albania. These officers are responsible for enforcing a bilateral agreement to manage two new migrant centers in Albania. The resort accommodations, contracted to Rafaelo Resort in Shengjin, include the luxurious "Rafaelo Executive" and "Hotel Comfort" hotels, offering private beaches, wellness centers, swimming pools, and exclusive dining services.
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| Rafaelo Resort by drone in Shengjin, Lezhë |
According to documents reviewed by the Italian news agency LaPresse, the total cost of the accommodations includes full board, with each officer assigned a single room at a daily rate of €80. The contract spans 12 months, with a maximum estimated cost of €8.9 million, though final spending may vary depending on the actual deployment of personnel.
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| Rafaelo Resort in Shengjin, Lezhë |
Political Backlash: Calls for Budget Reallocation
Italian political figures, including members of the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Green-Left Alliance (Avs), have voiced strong criticism, calling the expenditure an irresponsible use of taxpayer funds. Alfonso Colucci, the M5S leader on the Constitutional Affairs Committee, argued that Italian citizens expect enhanced public security at home rather than foreign deployments funded by lavish budgets. Colucci added that the funds could be better spent increasing police wages and providing necessary resources within Italy.
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| Rafaelo Resort in Shengjin, Lezhë |
Filiberto Zaratti, the Avs leader on the same committee, characterized the expenditure as a "national scandal," stating that it reflects poorly on the government's fiscal priorities. Zaratti emphasized that Italy’s national budget is already stretched, and further misallocation could worsen public sentiment toward the current administration.
Comparisons with Domestic Conditions for Law Enforcement
The Italian Union for Penitentiary Police (Uilpa) has also weighed in, comparing the plush conditions in Albania with the austere accommodations faced by Italian prison officers. Uilpa General Secretary Gennarino De Fazio expressed frustration over what he described as blatant inequity, pointing out that prison officers are housed in basic, prefabricated quarters without standard furnishings. De Fazio also cited safety concerns, stating that these accommodations lack proper facilities and represent a violation of the National Framework Agreement between Italian unions and the Ministry of Justice.
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| Rafaelo Resort by night in Shengjin, Lezhë |
Ministry of the Interior's Clarification
In response to the criticism, the Ministry of the Interior clarified that the €9 million allocation is an upper-limit estimate. Officials noted that actual costs would reflect the exact number of officers deployed. The Ministry also explained that the selection of Rafaelo Resort was guided by union agreements, which established accommodation standards that factored into the decision to choose these facilities.
This expenditure highlights ongoing debates within Italy regarding the allocation of funds for international security versus domestic needs. For now, the Ministry remains committed to the agreement, defending the resort accommodations as necessary to meet international obligations and maintain standards for Italian police stationed abroad. However, public and political scrutiny suggests that calls for accountability may continue.