ITALIAN NAVY SHIP WITH MIGRANTS ARRIVES IN ALBANIAN PORT – A controversial plan to process thousands of asylum seekers abroad
An Italian ship carrying the first group of migrants to be processed in Albania arrived in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday, October 16th, setting in motion a controversial plan to process thousands of asylum seekers abroad.
Italy has built two reception centres in Albania, the first such deal involving a European Union nation diverting migrants to a non-EU country to deter irregular arrivals.
The Libra, an Italian navy ship, docked at the former navy port Shengjin, Reuters footage showed. It will be met by Italian officers.
The first group of migrants to be processed under the new arrangement, comprising 10 Bangladeshis and six Egyptians, was picked up at sea on Sunday (October 13) aboard boats that had set sail from Libya.