SCAN TV: First 16 Migrants Arrive – Gjipali: It aims to demotivate flows towards Italy, 16 October 2024

Invited to SCAN TV to discuss the arrival of the first ship with 16 migrants from Italy to Albania, Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA, stated that this move, which in itself discourages migrants aiming for Italy, is an internal policy to address the issue of large migration and asylum-seeker flows by handling them outside Italy. It remains to be seen whether other countries will adopt a similar scheme. Regarding which countries might implement the same agreement with Balkan states, Gjipali emphasized that the receiving country must be suitable for accommodating the migrants, as it should be a safe country, such as Albania, and logistically feasible. However, it ultimately depends on the agreement reached between them. Another important aspect concerns migrants’ rights; given that a new scheme is being implemented, monitoring will be even stricter regarding how it will all function. The processing is handled by Italy, which meets all conditions and guarantees the respect of their rights, especially in well-structured procedures. Albania’s benefits from this process are mainly political, as Italy is one of its closest partners, and Italy’s support for Albania on the European front in the EU membership process is significant. Regarding the risks involved, Gjipali stated that, since all possible guarantees for control and security are in place, there are two potential scenarios: either avoiding such incidents altogether or minimising them if they occur.

SCAN TV: First 16 Migrants Arrive – Gjipali: It aims to demotivate flows towards Italy, 16 October 2024