The Albanian constitutional court placed on hold the migrant pact made by Prime Minister Edi Rama with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to set up reception centres for migrants in the Balkan country.
Around 30 opposition MPs filed a request to review to proposal under the constitutional court, pointing at procedural errors during negotiation and signing. The court agreed to the request and scheduled a hearing on the pact on Jan. 18. The scheduled meeting means that the ratification is suspended until the court expresses its opinion.
Last month, Meloni and Rama signed the deal that would see around 3,000 people being hosted in Albania while processed, in a bid to ease pressure on Italy. The centres are set to open in the spring of 2024 and according to Meloni will not host minors, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups. The total cost of the project remains unclear, together with other details.
The project is part of Meloni’s broader view on migration. Her party Brothers of Italy (FdI) has been proposing for a while that the European Union sets up welcoming facilities outside of the bloc to process migrants.
Rama agreed on the project out of duty he felt the country has with Italy, due to their shared history and close proximity. However, his opponents felt overruled as Rama didn’t consult with the parliament before making the surprise deal.
The Albanian parliament was due to ratify the deal on Dec. 14 before the court decided to grant a hearing on the issue. According to the court, after parliamentary ratification, the deal will have to be approved also by Albanian President Bajram Begaj as it involves territorial issues and fundamental rights.
