VDL confirms value of Albania project says Piantedosi

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 16 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the value of Italy's controversial new migrant processing centres in Albania and some 15 countries are interested in the project, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told the House Wednesday.
    "On the protocol signed with Albania, the attention given to the project by 15 European countries and by the European Union itself is the greatest proof of the experimental and innovative value of an initiative that aims to combat illegal immigration without affecting the guarantees of fundamental rights of people," he said at question time.
    "The letter from President von der Leyen addressed to the heads of state and government in view of the upcoming European Council, is further confirmation of this".
    The German EC chief lauded the project in her letter ahead of the summit Tuesday and said it might prove to be a model other countries might imitate.
    Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has said the project, agreed with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, will deter migrants from setting off for Italy and Europe.
    Critics have said it unacceptably externalises the migrant issue and sets up a new Guantanamo, as well as being excessively expensive.
    The Libra navy ship that delivered the first 16 Bangladeshi and Egyptian migrants to Albania early Wednesday has a crew of 64.
    Italian media have said the money spent on the op could have funded three-week Caribbean cruises for each migrant.
    When up to speed, the new system will be able to process 3,000 migrants a year, Meloni says - a risibly low proportion, critics say.
    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who binned the previous Conservative government's scheme to take migrants to Rwanda, and Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp have been among the foreign officials who have voiced interest in the project.
    (ANSA).