Albania8k8 777 slotsn centers for Italian asylum seekers ready by August: Italian PM

ROME -- Two facilities in Albania aimed at housing those seeking asylum in Italy will become operational on Aug 1, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.

The announcement came at the end of a visit Meloni paid to Albania to thank authorities there for hosting refugees, and to check the two centers under construction in Shengjin and Gjader.

The two countries signed a five-year deal in November last year, under which Albania agreed to host up to 3,000 migrants each month rescued by Italian ships in international waters, while Italy assesses their asylum requests.

"The two facilities will work together, and be ready to enter into force by Aug 1," Meloni told a joint press conference with her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.

Italy has allocated a total of 670 million euros ($728 million) to the project. When fully operative, the deal will allow Italy to save around 136 million euros a year, according to the Italian PM.

She added that the deal will not include migrant children, women, elders, and other vulnerable people, who will still be brought to Italy after being rescued.

The two hosting centers will be managed by Albanian security staff, but will fall under Italian jurisdiction.

At full capacity, the country could therefore receive up to 36,000 people a year from Italy. Those migrants whose asylum requests are granted will be brought to Italy, while those who are rejected will be deported by Italian authorities from Albania.

According to the Interior Ministry, up to June 5 this year some 21,634 people have reached Italy by sea, a much lower number than in the same period of 2023 (51,731).