ROME — Italy is transferring the first group of migrants to Albania, the Interior Ministry said Monday, as part of a contentious plan to process thousands of asylum-seekers outside its borders.
A naval ship departed from the island of Lampedusa with 16 men — 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt — who were rescued at sea after departing from Libya. The ship is expected to arrive Wednesday morning, a ministry spokesman said.
Premier Giorgia Meloni's far-right government formally opened the two centers in Albania Friday where Italy plans to process thousands of male migrants requesting asylum after being intercepted in international waters while trying to cross to Europe.
The centers can accommodate up to 400 migrants at first, with that expected to increase to 880 in a few weeks, according to Italian officials.
Women, children, older people and those who are ill or victims of torture will be accommodated in Italy. Families will not be separated.
The five-year deal was endorsed last year by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as an example of "out-of-box thinking" in tackling the migration issue, but human rights groups say it sets a dangerous precedent.
A spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency, which has expressed serious concerns, said Monday that one of its teams was conducting an "independent mission" on board the ship to monitor the screening process.
The agency, also known as UNHCR, has agreed to supervise the first three months to help "safeguard the rights and dignity of those subject to it."
The agreement, signed last year, calls for Albania to house up to 3,000 male migrants while Italy fast-tracks their asylum claims. The migrants will retain their right under international and EU law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there.
The two centers will cost Italy 670 million euros ($730 million) over five years. The facilities will be run by Italy and are under Italian jurisdiction, while Albanian guards will provide external security.
Meloni and her right-wing allies have long demanded that European countries share more of the migration burden.
