Italy and Albania Launch Controversial Offshore Asylum Processing Center

The new facility in Shengjin aims to deter illegal migration by processing asylum claims outside the EU, sparking debate across Europe.

Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has sent the first group of migrants to a new asylum processing center in Albania, marking a significant shift in EU migration policy.
The center in Shengjin, Albania, is designed to process asylum claims remotely, with Italian judges determining the legitimacy of claims to prevent migrants from reaching EU soil.
While the initiative is supported by some EU leaders as a potential model for managing migration, it faces criticism for being potentially illegal and inhumane.
The project is part of broader efforts by Italy to reduce irregular migration, which includes deals with North African countries and stricter measures against NGOs involved in migrant rescues.
Critics argue that the quick assessments and remote processing could violate due process, and legal challenges may threaten the project's viability.