The Italian Prime Minister launches his “mini-Guantanamo” – Spiegel. The Czech Prime Minister praises the agreement

On Wednesday, in Albania, under an agreement with Italy, a reception center for migrants who can arrive there directly from the sea, through which they are trying to reach Italy, began to operate. They will stay in the center opened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni while their asylum applications are considered and it is determined whether they meet the conditions to receive it.

Its opening was commented on by the German weekly “Spiegel”, which on Wednesday noted that the migrant center is located behind a metal fence about eight meters high. “Behind the gate there are new administrative buildings and a square painted green. This color, according to the Italian managers, is supposed to have a 'relaxing' effect,” it was written.

“There is talk of a 'mini-Guantanamo' on the ground. The fences, searchlights, surveillance cameras, cells – everything has been recently built by the government. From the guards and judges who decide on asylum applications, to the officials who are supposed to deport rejected applicants to their home country according to an accelerated procedure: everything is subject to Italian jurisdiction,” we read in “Spiegel”.

READ ALSO: Meloni's plan came into effect. The first migrants sailed to Albania

The weekly assessed that the Italian-Albanian agreement under which the center was established also has “many fans in the EU.” “A few months ago, 15 member states, including Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands, called on the European Commission to follow Italy's example,” recalled “Spiegel”.

According to the portal, Prime Minister Meloni is already perceived in Brussels as a politician who chooses “innovative paths”. “She can present herself to her voters as a strong woman who defends Italy's borders,” it was stated. “The coming months in the 'relaxing' green Shengjin camp will show what 'practical conclusions' can be drawn. Perhaps other EU countries will actually copy the Italian example. Or it will turn out to be a flop worth billions for Meloni,” concluded “Spiegel”.

The new center has already been praised by the Czech Prime Minister. – Italy's agreement with Albania can serve as a model solution, Petr Fiala said on Wednesday. In his opinion, the solution can be used in agreements with other countries, e.g. African ones.

Fiala believes that there are reasons to believe that this method will work. He was in favor of using similar solutions in subsequent agreements with third countries, and considered the African area to be the most logical.

The presidents and prime ministers of several EU countries, including the Czech Republic, want to organize a separate meeting on migration before the start of the EU summit on Thursday in Brussels. – The Czech Republic is of the opinion that the steps taken so far are not sufficient. We have to go further, faster, more actively, more decisively, Fiala said. In his opinion, the meeting participants want to put pressure and convince other countries to make efforts to improve their return policy, the process of expelling migrants and cooperation with third countries.

Fiala also said that, together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he is trying to ensure that comments on migration take into account the huge number of Ukrainian refugees that these countries have accepted. European solidarity must also manifest itself in this way, said Fiala.