During his visit to Albania, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed plans to establish a “Return Hub” for asylum seekers awaiting deportation back to the UK. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with several countries, although he did not disclose specific details. Albania has previously signed an agreement with Italy to manage migrants, but Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama indicated that this arrangement was unique and would not extend to the UK.
Starmer’s government previously scrapped a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Instead, their proposed model focuses on sending rejected asylum seekers to a third country. Immigration expert Meghan Benton highlighted legal and moral distinctions between this approach and others in Europe.
Starmer noted a significant decrease in Albanian migrants crossing the English Channel, from 12,000 in 2022 to 600 in 2024. However, overall crossings have risen by 30% this year. Albania is deemed a safe nation, which limits asylum opportunities for its citizens in the UK. Both leaders pledged to strengthen their partnership against irregular migration and signed a statement to collaborate on military vehicle production. Starmer’s visit marks the first by a British Prime Minister to Albania, coinciding with an upcoming European political community meeting aimed at enhancing continental security and prosperity.
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