**Italy Transfers Migrants to Albania in Controversial New Measure**

In a move touted by the Italian government as a novel approach to curbing immigration, Italy dispatched its first boat carrying migrants to Albania on Monday. The initiative involves transferring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by Italian authorities to detention centers in Albania, where their asylum claims will be processed.

This plan has been framed by Italian officials and some EU leaders as a groundbreaking strategy for managing and deterring migration towards Italy. However, it has sparked backlash from human rights organizations, who are concerned about the potential for placing migrants at risk of human rights abuses. The newly operational detention centers are located in the Albanian towns of Schengjin and Gjader.

Italy's interior ministry spokesman, Francesco Kamel, reported that 16 men from Egypt and Bangladesh were picked up in international waters and are anticipated to arrive in Albania by Wednesday morning. As per the Italian government, only "non-vulnerable" men from "safe countries" will be sent to these Albanian centers. Vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the ill, and disabled, will continue to be taken directly to Italy for their asylum processing.

Upon arrival in Albania, migrants will have the opportunity to register for asylum and present their cases remotely to Italian judges, with expectations of resolutions within days, according to Italy’s interior minister Matteo Piantedosi. In cases where asylum claims are denied, Albania will directly facilitate the repatriation of these individuals to their home countries.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has hailed the program as an exemplary model of cooperation between EU and non-EU countries in handling migration flows. While Albania is not currently an EU member, it is under consideration for membership.

Criticism of this initiative has been vocal. Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, highlighted the increased risks of human rights violations for refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants under such externalized border controls. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, criticized the government for misusing public funds to establish the Albanian migrant centers.

Conversely, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, endorsed the plan as a creative and fair approach to sharing responsibilities with third countries. Minister Piantedosi also expressed confidence that the program will serve as a deterrent to migrants attempting to enter Italy.

This agreement with Albania resembles a similar yet stalled British initiative, which proposed sending asylum seekers to Rwanda to assess their claims outside the UK. Italian Prime Minister Meloni mentioned that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has shown significant interest in Italy's plan during his recent visit to the country.