The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, believes that Italy’s new policy on migration to process migrants offshore in Albania could benefit the European Union.  This would be done against the backdrop of a massive migration-themed EU summit where leaders decide how best to stem the inflow of migrants and boost deportations of those who have no legitimate claim on remaining.

The letter to the EU member states noted that the return rate for irregular migrants in the EU is still meager; only about 20% of those ordered out leave an EU country.  Many are left in the EU, drifting from country to country simply because no one wants to take responsibility for returning them.  Von der Leyen demanded respect for the deportation decisions other EU states took so migrants would not play off the gaps in the system.

Italy’s new policy, which has sparked a political storm, is to repatriate some of the migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Albania to process their claims.  ‘This week, Italy started ferrying 16 men from Bangladesh and Egypt from Lampedusa to newly built centers on the Albanian coast.  The centers were constructed at an estimated €650 million for Italy; they are meant to process asylum claims from migrants according to Italian law.’Children and pregnant women are not included in this scheme.

The policy has generated controversy, however.  Critics among politicians and NGOs, including Riccardo Magi from the left-wing +Europa party, called the plan “cruel, useless, and expensive.” Doctors Without Borders considers it will only increase injury and human rights violations.  The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, though, unanimously defended the plan, saying that it’s a bold, innovative step within the spirit of Europe.

Many EU countries are closely monitoring Italy’s new plan since the stormy debate on migration continues in the continent.  Several countries are embracing stern migration policies to respond to rising far-right party support.  In the recent past alone, Germany reinstated land border controls, and France is considering even stricter immigration laws.  Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would temporarily suspend the right of asylum to those crossing the border as part of concern with Belarus allowing large numbers of migrants into Poland.

Some of these measures have been triggered by shocking incidents like recent murders in France and Germany committed by failed asylum seekers.  A Syrian asylum seeker, who was to be deported, stabbed three people to death in Solingen, Germany.  A Moroccan national, who was also told to leave France, murdered a young student near Paris.  Such incidents triggered demands for tighter immigration controls.

As a response to the challenges of migration, Austria and the Netherlands were among the 15 EU countries that proposed changes aimed at improving the deportation system and making it more effective.  Von der Leyen’s statement that they should take a leaf from the way Italy takes care of this might be a call to have much bolder policies regarding the control of EU migration.

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