Whole EU talking about Italy-Albania model - Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 17 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday hit back at the centre-left opposition for criticising the agreement her government reached with Tirana to set up Italian-run migrant centres on Albanian territory, saying the interest the initiative has attracted across Europe shows its worth.
    An Italian Navy ship with the first group of migrants to be processed under the system arrived in Albania on Wednesday.
    Opposition parties and rights groups have criticised the scheme, saying it externalises the migrant issue and is excessively expensive.
    "Curious to note how, while almost the whole of Europe discusses our initiatives to curb irregular immigration and stop human trafficking, some nations considering them as models, the Italian Left only thinks about attacking them in an inconsistent, gratuitous manner," Meloni said via X while at the EU summit in Brussels.
    "Defending borders and stopping human trafficking is not only our duty, it is also a priority for Italy and for the whole of Europe'.
    Earlier on Thursday Democratic Party (PD) Elly Schlein reiterated her criticism of the Italy-Albania Protocol in harsh terms in Brussels.
    (see related) (ANSA).