News: Albania, Hoxha hints at withdrawal from migrant centres agreement with Italy, but Rama denies it

Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha stated that the agreement on migrant centres with Italy might not be renewed beyond 2030, linking the issue to Albania’s future accession to the European Union. Hoxha’s remarks were later contradicted by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who declared that “the agreement will remain in place for as long as Italy wants it.”

The migrant centres in Gjadër and Shëngjin represent one of the flagship projects of cooperation between the Italian and Albanian governments. Strongly supported by Giorgia Meloni and Rama, the agreement provides for the Italian management of facilities located on Albanian territory for the processing of certain asylum requests.

The statements come at a delicate moment for the Albanian prime minister. Between 12 and 13 May, Albania’s anti-corruption authority SPAK intensified investigations and arrests involving figures close to the ruling Socialist majority.

Photo credit: Audiovisual Service, Wikimedia Commons