The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the news of the temporary suspension of operations at the Italian detention centres in Albania. Recent reports indicate that the Italian workers are being sent back home, while the centres should indefinitely stop operating by the weekend.
These developments follow the decision of the Rome court, appealed by the Italian government, which questioned the legal basis for establishing a list of “safe countries,” and effectively detaining asylum seekers in Albania.
Susanna Zanfrini, IRC Italy Country Director, says:
“The suspension of operations at the Italian Centres in Albania is a step in the right direction. The IRC has reiterated that these centres should not have existed in the first place, and warned that the agreement is not only cruel but also costly and counterproductive. This week's developments prove that.”
“As the date for the discussion on the legal appeals filed by the Italian government approaches on 4 December, we hope that the Italian Supreme Court will uphold the rights of people in this move, and affirm the decision that no country outside the EU can be declared safe unless its entire territory is deemed safe. We trust that such a ruling will effectively prevent the detention of people seeking asylum in Albania.”