Italy Transfers Initial Asylum Seekers to Albania Amidst Debate Over Controversial Agreement

The first people caught at sea, under an immigration agreement between Italy and Albania, are now heading towards Albania for their asylum requests to be examined.

As part of the deal agreed upon by Italy’s leader Giorgia Meloni from the far-right party, a naval vessel embarked on Monday "with some irregular migrants aboard", confirmed the interior ministry without specifying numbers. All individuals being transported to Albania are men who attempted to cross from Africa into Europe via sea routes.

Women and children with health concerns or signs of torture were directed towards Lampedusa, post-screening conducted for determining their eligibility under the agreement – only males hailing from nations that Italy considers safe will proceed according to Italian news reports.

More detailed screenings at Schëngjin port are planned upon arrival in Albania where they'll be held temporarily while awaiting processing of their asylum applications, which take place within the centres established under this deal - one with capacity for hosting up to 880 people and two more smaller facilities.

The Italy-funded initiative has been criticized by human rights organizations claim it violates international laws but hasn't faced direct condemnation from EU institutions despite its controversial nature, having gained formal approval in November of the previous year during a meeting between Meloni and Albania’s Edi Rama.

Meloni pledged at that time to aid Albania if they supported her immigration strategy which includes building these centres under Italian jurisdiction with some security managed by local guards, promising processing times far quicker than what Italy currently faces - aiming for completion within 28 days compared to several months.

Italy's safe country list has broadened from earlier years and now incorporates nations like Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast along with others previously not included; in the past year alone over half a million individuals originating from these countries arrived at Italian shores seeking refugee status but due to this agreement their asylum applications will mainly be denied because they come from regions deemed safe.

Those who are rejected undergo detention before final repatriation, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK faced backlash and criticism within his own party after showing keen interest in these immigration proceedings during a meeting with Meloni yet pledged financial support for her stricter approach towards handling irregular migration.