"The Albanian parliament today ratified the cooperation accord with Italy against clandestine immigration and human trafficking," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented on social media after the Albanian parliament ratified the agreement which will see migrants rescued at sea be sent to centers in Albania for processing.

She highlighted the significance of this agreement, thanking Prime Minister Edi Rama, Albanian institutions, and the Albanian population for their friendship and collaborative efforts.

On the X platform, the Albanian prime minister called for the overcoming of internal divisions and, in reference to Europe, noted: "No country can solve such a challenge alone, no rhetoric or quick fixes can change its magnitude, and no old glories or past ways of thinking can provide an escape from facing what is coming in all fronts. Only a stronger, braver, and more sovereign Europe loyal to itself can."

Albania, Rama added, "is standing together with Italy by choosing to act like an EU member state and agreeing to share a burden that Europe should face united as a whole family in the face of a daring challenge that transcends traditional left and right divides."

Also read: Italy-Albania deal: Only migrants rescued in non-EU waters can be sent to Albania

Vote and differing positions within Albania

The agreement garnered approval from 77 out of 140 Albanian MPs, with the opposition boycotting the vote. While the Socialist majority, along with three MPs from the opposition Party for Integration and Unity (PDIU), supported the accord, the main center-right opposition Democratic Party remained staunchly opposed.

According to Gazmend Bardhi, head of the Democratic Party's parliamentary group, their opposition stems from concerns regarding public interest and national security, emphasizing that the agreement allegedly compromises Albania's sovereignty over designated reception center territories.

Among the reasons for the petition filed at the high court -- presented also by 28 MPs linked to the former prime minister and former president Sali Berisha -- was that "due to its nature and terms, the agreement goes beyond a simple MoU between two governments, since Albania is renouncing its sovereignty over the territory set aside for the reception centers."

The court rejected the appeals and on January 29 gave the go-ahead for the MoU since it "does not harm Albania's territorial integrity", unblocking the parliamentary process.

Also read: Italy-Albania accord 'waste of money', says CEI

Procedure for accord in Italian Senate and provisions

The agreement faced criticism in Italy as well, with opposition parties and the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) expressing reservations. However, the Italian Senate ratified the agreement on February 15 with 93 votes in favor and 61 against.

In essence, the agreement calls for a migrant identification center in the Albanian hinterland in Gjader that will be able to hold "up to 3,000" people (but will not accept 'vulnerable' individuals such as women, minors, and the disabled) plus a smaller center for initial reception at the Shengjin port, where Italian ships will be able to dock with the migrants.

The transportation from the smaller center to the repatriation center will be conducted by Italy, which will also be responsible for internal security at both centers, while Albania will be responsible for their external security.

Also read: Italian PM defends Albania accord amid opposition outcry