ROME — A coalition of humanitarian organizations providing health services to migrants has expressed strong opposition to Italy’s recent migration agreement with Albania, asserting that the arrangement breaches medical ethics. They have called on healthcare professionals to refrain from participating in the deal, which has become a focal point in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s initiative against human trafficking.
The agreement, a central aspect of the government’s strategy, stipulates that certain male migrants who are rescued at sea will have their asylum claims processed while being held at two detention centers in Albania, which is not a member of the European Union. Italy has long insisted that other European nations increase their support for managing the continent’s migration challenges and now positions the Albania deal as a benchmark for Europe, hoping it will deter migrants from embarking on perilous journeys to Europe from North Africa.
Despite its ambitious goals, the five-year agreement, which carries an estimated cost of 670 million euros (approximately $730 million), has been met with significant hurdles, including legal impediments that have stalled the processing of any migrants in Albania thus far. Initial delays in center construction postponed their opening for months. Subsequently, despite the transfer of the first two groups of 20 men, Italian courts issued rulings mandating their return to Italy.
Currently, the situation is being reviewed by the European Union’s Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which must determine whether the men’s home countries are considered safe for their return. The two groups consist of individuals from Bangladesh and Egypt.
In response to the agreement, the non-governmental organizations conducted a thorough review of the procedures intended to assess migrants’ vulnerabilities, first aboard Italian naval vessels and later at the Albanian centers. They noted that only those identified as not “vulnerable” are meant to be relocated to Albania.
However, the organizations argue that the necessary tools and facilities to carry out such assessments are inadequate. They emphasized that nearly all individuals attempting the hazardous Mediterranean voyage have experienced various forms of violence—be it physical, psychological, or sexual abuse—rendering them unsuitable for detention in Albania. They also pointed out that these experiences can leave migrants at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and other severe mental and physical health issues.
Additionally, the groups have criticized international organizations participating in the deal, specifically naming the International Organization of Migration and the Knights of Malta’s Italian rescue unit as “complicit” in violating human rights. They stated that the protocol between Italy and Albania violates medical ethics and endangers the physical and mental wellbeing of migrants.
There was no immediate response from the International Organization of Migration or the Knights of Malta regarding the allegations made by these organizations. Meanwhile, the Italian government maintains that the rights of migrants will be fully protected at the Albanian centers, and the deal has been praised by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as innovative in addressing migration challenges. However, human rights advocates warn that such agreements set a concerning precedent and contravene Italy’s international legal obligations.
The United Nations refugee agency has agreed to oversee the initial three months of the arrangement, with one of its teams conducting an independent assessment aboard the transfer vessel to oversee the screening process.
Legal challenges persist despite the limited number of individuals affected so far. While the centers are designed to accommodate up to 3,000 migrants monthly, only 20 men have been transferred so far—who were ultimately redirected to Italy following court interventions. This statement was endorsed by a coalition of organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Emergency, Sea-Watch, and SOS Mediterranee, among others.