Albania, the anti-migrant agreement is opaque and expensive: 252 million euros only for travel by ministerial officials, equal to an average of 138 thousand euros per day

ROMA – Through the data processed and disseminated by openpolice – the independent, non-profit foundation that promotes projects for access to public information, transparency and democratic participation – according to government forecasts, the management of reception centers in Albania will cost 653 million euros over 5 years. However, the expected expenditure for the management of the structures amounts to 30 million, the remaining over 600 million therefore serves to finance other aspects of the operation.

252 million just for officials’ travel. Among the expenses that would not have been incurred if the centers had been built in Italy are 252 million euros for travel for ministerial officials. An exorbitant sum, equal to an average of 138 thousand euros per day, necessary to pay for travel, daily allowances, food and accommodation for inter-force personnel, prefectural officials, those of the penitentiary administration department (Dap), border health personnel ( Usmaf) and that of the national institute for the promotion of the health of migrant populations (Inmp). All expenses that would have been avoided if these personnel had worked in their usual places of work, instead of abroad.

The agreement with Albania: will be operational on May 20th. Therefore, on 6 November 2023, the Italy-Albania protocol for the “strengthening of collaboration in migration matters”, ratified by the Italian Parliament last February. The agreement provides for the establishment of two centers in Albania, one for the very first reception (in the town of Shengjin) and the other with the functions of Hotspot and detention and repatriation center (CPR), in Gjader. The centers are located approximately 20 km from each other, in the north of the country. According to the government’s intentions, these structures should begin to operate from May 20th, although initially with a reduced capacity.

The detailed analysis of expenses. A technical report reconstructs the estimated expenses assuming a cost of around 650 million euros in 5 years, of which only a small part however concerns the management of the centres. The cost of the Italy-Albania protocol in 5 years is 653 million.

The obvious uses. It is clear that this is a considerable expense which however does not seem useful either to encourage repatriations, or to improve the logistics of reception or the integration of those who will have their request for international protection recognised.

The people welcomed and the management costs. To calculate the management costs, it would be necessary to know the number of people who will be welcomed in these centers and for how many days. To date, however, it is not even clear what the maximum number of people could be hosted in the two structures.

Arrivals overestimated. In fact, the government has repeatedly claimed that 3 thousand people will be welcomed into Albania per month, for a total of 36 thousand people per year. In fact, the protocol also refers to this figure, however indicating it as a maximum limit and not as the average presence. Yet as is known, particularly in first reception centres, the number of people welcomed can vary significantly. In fact, while in mid-August 2023 the Ministry of the Interior indicated that there were almost 2,599 people present in the Italian hotspots, on March 15th, however, this number reached just 712.

However, these figures raise doubts. But even taking the government’s maximum numbers for granted, these figures continue to raise doubts. In fact, in expression of interest published by the Ministry of the Interior for the management of the facilities, there is talk of a maximum capacity of just over a thousand people, of which 880 in the hotspot and 144 in the CPR. This document also estimates a maximum cost of 34 million euros per year for the management of the two structures: a very high figure, even if far from the 650 million total costs. According to the technical report, however, the actual expenditure, calculated on the historical costs for the management of structures of this type, should be around 30 million euros in 5 years (4.4 million euros in 2024 and 6.5 million year between 2025 and 2028).

The other costs of the protocol. Taking these figures at face value, there remains over 600 million euros which would not concern management costs. Some of these cost items would perhaps have been similar if the centers had been built in Italy. Let’s talk for example about the costs for the construction and maintenance of the structures.

The objectives of the agreement remain unclear. Of course, 650 million euros is a substantial sum. However, to evaluate public expenditure we must first consider the objective we set ourselves and the ability of that measure to achieve it. The agreement essentially has three objectives: to combat human trafficking, to prevent illegal migratory flows and to welcome only those who truly have the right to international protection. From the terms of the agreement itself, however, it is not clear how the creation of two centers in Albania can combat human trafficking and prevent illegal migratory flows. As for welcoming only those who truly have the right to international protection, the question would arise in the same terms even if the centers were built in Italy.