Italy, which has the largest migrant arrival numbers in the European Union, has begun outsourcing some of its challenges to neighboring Albania.
Two controversial migrant detainment camps are being opened in the port town of Shengjin and the former air force base of Gjader, both on Albania’s northwest coast.
The five-year agreement signed by the Italian and Albanian Prime Ministers is intended to help reduce Italy's migrant burden and deter some from attempting the journey. Last year, 153,000 migrants made landfall in Italy.
Both camps will operate rather like embassies in that Italy has paid for the facilities—estimated at upwards of €650 million—and will operate under Italian and EU legislation as if they were on Italian soil.
Albania's decision to allow such a scheme would boost its image overseas as it negotiates for membership of the European Union.
