What we asked: Please provide a detailed breakdown of the logistical and operational costs incurred by the Italian Ministry of Interior for transporting, disembarking, and screening migrants at the Shengjin port facility during the first quarter of its operation (October - December 2024).
What formal protocols or emergency contingency plans are in place between the Italian authorities operating the Shengjin hotspot and the local Albanian medical infrastructure in the event of severe medical emergencies that exceed the capacity of the on-site clinic?
Please provide copies of the formal infrastructural impact assessments and lease/zoning agreements enacted between the Italian government and the Albanian Port Authority regarding the enclosure of the Italian-controlled zone within the commercial port of Shengjin.
Facilities database › 🇦🇱 Albania
Centro di Shengjin (Shengjin Hotspot)
Was: A designated section within the operational commercial port of Shengjin that was enclosed and repurposed for the extraterritorial processing center.
Centro di Shengjin is a dedicated hotspot and reception centre located within the commercial port of Shengjin in northwestern Albania. Opened in October 2024, it serves as the primary disembarkation point under the highly controversial Italy-Albania Protocol on extraterritorial migration management.
Context & Operations: Migrants rescued in international waters by Italian state vessels (such as the Navy or Coast Guard) are transported directly to this Albanian port rather than to Italy. At the Shengjin facility, individuals undergo initial medical screening, security checks, and identity verification. Once processed, they are transferred inland to the longer-term detention and repatriation centre in Gjadër. While situated on Albanian sovereign territory, the facility is strictly operated under Italian jurisdiction, with security and administration handled directly by Italian personnel.
Funding & Controversies: The construction, staffing, and ongoing operation of the facility are funded entirely by the Italian government. The externalization agreement has drawn intense scrutiny from human rights organizations and legal experts regarding the lawful detention of asylum seekers, logistical inefficiencies, and the exorbitant taxpayer costs of transporting individuals across the Adriatic Sea for processing.
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Official contacts & outreach
Requests we have sent to councils, mayors and local authorities about this facility, with the status of their response.