Scan TV – Gjipali: Albania’s Benefit from the Migration Agreement, 23 February 2024

Gledis Gjipali, Integration Expert, was invited to Scan TV to provide his analysis of the migration agreement between Italy and Albania. He elucidated the content of the regulations governing their care and treatment, as well as the details of the agreement’s duration and execution. He expressed that Albania will benefit politically as this strategy will draw the country closer to Italy, thereby enhancing diplomatic ties between the two countries and elevating Albania’s influence over refugees seeking to enter Europe. Apart from infrastructure, which the Italian government will fund, and possibly supportive service employment opportunities that could be actively pursued, he believes there will not be many direct economic benefits. Regarding the increasing opposition to this contractual relationship, Gjipali expressed that most of these concerns have been related to claims regarding whether Albanian legislation and that of the European Union have been violated, which has been denied and dismissed by the Constitutional Court of Albania and the European Commission. The similarities and differences between this contract and the one between the two parties, the United Kingdom and Rwanda, were also covered by Gjipali. Though it should be noted that there is no numerical advantage, he came to the conclusion that, fundamentally, such an agreement is a politically wise strategic move. In saying so, he mentioned that such a move would have positive impacts for our country aiming for membership, in terms of the principle of solidarity.   

Scan TV – Gjipali: Albania’s Benefit from the Migration Agreement, 23 February 2024