Starmer to hold talks with Albania over plans to send migrants there – despite scrapping Rwanda scheme
SIR Keir Starmer will hold talks with Albania amid fresh calls to process illegal migrants offshore.
Despite scrapping the Rwanda scheme, UK officials have drawn up plans to send arrivals to the Balkan state.
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Last year, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the PM was 'very interested' in a deal where Italy deports migrants to Albania for processing.
Sir Keir has said he will consider any option to stem the illegal flow by deterring migrants from attempting the Channel crossing.
However, the Italian deal has been bogged down by legal challenges, with the UK closely monitoring the outcome.
The PM is in the Albanian capital ahead of a European summit in Tirana tomorrow.
It is the first visit to the state by a British premier.
Sir Keir hopes to increase co-operation with Albania, which has accounted for a significant number of small-boat migrants arriving in Britain.
The visit comes amid a busy week of crossings that has pushed arrivals from France to 12,699 already this year — 30 per cent higher than the same period last year.
Sir Keir and his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama will announce measures to clamp down on people-smuggling, including using British drones to monitor criminals sneaking migrants through the region.
No10 said the number of Albanians making the crossing had fallen by 95 per cent in the past three years, while the number returned had doubled between 2022 and 2024 after increased co-operation between the two countries.
A task force with Albania and Kosovo will be expanded to include North Macedonia and Montenegro.
Sir Keir and Mr Rama are also set to tackle organised crime, including sharing DNA swabs of Albanian criminals.
Sir Keir said: 'Global challenges need shared solutions, and the work the UK and Albania is doing together is delivering security for working people in both countries.
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