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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Italy's Albanian migrant hub cost seven times more than home facility, report says
ROME, - The migrant detention hub Italy has set up in Albania has cost seven times more than an equivalent facility back home, a study by the ActionAid Italy charity and the University of Bari said on Thursday. Italy's Albanian migrant hub cost seven times more than home facility, report says The Italian interior ministry declined to comment on the report. Conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees the facilities set up in Albania as a cornerstone of her tough immigration policies, and other European countries have looked to them as a possible model. The scheme was launched last year but almost immediately put on hold as Italian courts repeatedly ordered the return to Italy of migrants picked up at sea and taken to Albania, citing issues with European Union law. The bloc's top court has yet to give its opinion on the issue. According to the report, Italy's government awarded contracts worth 74.2 million euros to build the Albanian detention facilities. It spent more than 153,000 euros for each operational bed space in Albania, the report estimated. By comparison, an asylum seekers' detention facility in Sicily's Porto Empedocle cost around 1 million euros for 50 operational bed spaces, or just over 21,000 euros per bed, ActionAid and the University of Bari found. "The Albania operation stands out as the most expensive, inhumane, and ineffective measure in the history of Italian migration policy," their report said. It also reported that Italy last year paid some 570,000 euros to a cooperative that runs the Albanian centre, despite it being operational for just five days to host a total of 20 migrants. In response to judicial opposition, this year Meloni's government said it would turn the Albanian hub into a repatriation facility for failed asylum seekers expelled from Italy, rather than a holding centre for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean. Italy's main opposition force, the centre-left Democratic Party , seized on Thursday's report to denounce a waste of public resources. "Giorgia Meloni must apologise to Italians, because the figures regarding the costs of her illegal Albania operation are an insult even to the millions of people who are currently struggling to get by," said PD leader Elly Schlein. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Italy's Albanian migrant hub cost seven times more than home facility, report says
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the reception camp, as migrants who were intercepted at sea and later detained at a reception facility in Albania are transferred to Italy after a court in Rome overturned their detention orders, in Shengjin, Albania, October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File Photo ROME - The migrant detention hub Italy has set up in Albania has cost seven times more than an equivalent facility back home, a study by the ActionAid Italy charity and the University of Bari said on Thursday. The Italian interior ministry declined to comment on the report. Conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees the facilities set up in Albania as a cornerstone of her tough immigration policies, and other European countries have looked to them as a possible model. The scheme was launched last year but almost immediately put on hold as Italian courts repeatedly ordered the return to Italy of migrants picked up at sea and taken to Albania, citing issues with European Union law. The bloc's top court has yet to give its opinion on the issue. According to the report, Italy's government awarded contracts worth 74.2 million euros ($87 million) to build the Albanian detention facilities. It spent more than 153,000 euros for each operational bed space in Albania, the report estimated. By comparison, an asylum seekers' detention facility in Sicily's Porto Empedocle cost around 1 million euros for 50 operational bed spaces, or just over 21,000 euros per bed, ActionAid and the University of Bari found. "The Albania operation stands out as the most expensive, inhumane, and ineffective measure in the history of Italian migration policy," their report said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Singapore calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire amid 'unconscionable' civilian suffering Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B Asia 'Vampire coach': Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's culture of obedience Singapore 1,300 names, addresses of traffic offenders published online; police investigating It also reported that Italy last year paid some 570,000 euros ($670,000) to a cooperative that runs the Albanian centre, despite it being operational for just five days to host a total of 20 migrants. In response to judicial opposition, this year Meloni's government said it would turn the Albanian hub into a repatriation facility for failed asylum seekers expelled from Italy, rather than a holding centre for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean. Italy's main opposition force, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), seized on Thursday's report to denounce a waste of public resources. "Giorgia Meloni must apologise to Italians, because the figures regarding the costs of her illegal Albania operation are an insult even to the millions of people who are currently struggling to get by," said PD leader Elly Schlein. REUTERS
