Euronews reported that Italy is bringing to the EU a plan to set up new return centers, based on the Albania model, in safe third countries.
Italy is aiming to extend at European level the model of migrant centres set up in Albania, proposing the creation of expulsion hubs of foreign nationals arriving on EU turf unlawfully to safe third countries while their asylum and immigration files are examined.
The proposal, revealed by leading Italian media outlets and confirmed by government officials, will be presented by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi at the extraordinary Council of European Union interior ministers convened for Tuesday.
The government’s goal is to create a network of centres outside the European Union dedicated to the management and return of irregular migrants, based on cooperation with countries of origin and transit.
The idea was first put forward by the Italian premier at the end of June, after gaining approval of the new EU regulation on returns. Rome now intends to formalise the plan and present it to the other 26 member states.
The new hubs, under the Italian proposal, would be financed through the bloc.
An initial list includes several African states and some countries located outside the traditional migration routes. Potential candidates include Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Montenegro.
