The Extraterritorial Protection of Migrants’ Human Rights

An Integrated Reading of the Italy-Albania Protocol and Article 25 of the Visa Code

Authors

  • Elisabetta Belardo Univeristy of Rome "La Sapienza"
  • Sara Squadrani Caritas Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57947/qrp.v63i3.155

Keywords:

extraterritorial - human rights - Protocol - jurisdiction - Italy - Albania - humanitarian visa - ECHR - EU Charter of Fundamental rights - asylum - international protection - migrants - border externalization - vulnerability - refugee

Abstract

This article stems from the approval of the law ratifying the Protocol between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, which took place on February 21, 2024. The contribution aims to analyse the delicate issue of the extraterritorial application of rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights in the implementation of the Protocol. This presents multiple challenges. Foremost among them is the absence of a clear and defined regulatory framework, which raises concerns about potential derogations from fundamental rights and guarantees. The extension of Italian jurisdiction ensures that the activities envisaged by the Protocol are subject to compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law. The analysis of the Protocol is carried out through an integrated reading with Art. 25 of the Visa Code, which provides for the issuance of humanitarian visas. Unlike the Protocol, the issuance of humanitarian visas by EU Countries is limited by jurisdictional issues, although it is capable of ensuring effective protection of the fundamental rights of migrants. Thus, the article aims to critically explore possible perspectives for migration policies that ensure safe and regular access to the EU and to examine requests for international protection on the territory of a third State.

Author Biographies

Elisabetta Belardo, Univeristy of Rome "La Sapienza"

Elisabetta Belardo is a PhD Student in International Order and Human Rights at the University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.

Sara Squadrani, Caritas Rome, Italy

Sara Squadrani is an Immigration Socio-Legal Worker at Caritas Rome, Italy.

References

ASGI (2023, November 14). Accordo Italia-Albania, ASGI: è incostituzionale non sottoporlo al Parlamento [Press Release]. https://www.asgi.it/asilo-e-protezione-internazionale/accordo-italia-albania-asgi-illegittimo-parlamento/

Besson, S. (2012). The Extraterritoriality of the European Convention on Human Rights: Why human rights depend on jurisdiction and what jurisdiction amounts to. Leiden Journal of International Law, 25(4), 857-884. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0922156512000489

Celoria, E., & De Leo, A. E. (2024). Il Protocollo Italia-Albania e il diritto dell’Unione europea: una relazione complicata, Diritto, Immigrazione e Cittadinanza. https://www.dirittoimmigrazionecittadinanza.it/archivio-saggi-commenti/saggi/fascicolo-n-1-2024-1/1414-il-protocollo-italia-albania-e-il-diritto-dell-unione-europea-una-relazione-complicata/file

Chaloff, J. (2008). Albania and Italy: Migration and their development relevance. A survey of Innovative and "Development - Friendly" practices in Albania and Italy. CeSPI Working Papers 51/2008. https://www.cespi.it/sites/default/files/documenti/wp_51-albania_and_italy-chaloff.pdf

Del Guercio, A. (2017). La sentenza X. e X. della Corte di giustizia sul rilascio del visto umanitario: analisi critica di un’occasione persa. European Papers, 2(1), 271-291. https://doi.org/10.15166/2499-8249/136

Faggiani, V. (2024, March 8). The Italy–Albania Protocol on migration management: Between new schemes of asylum externalisation and risks of systematic violations. Unio EU Law Journal. https://officialblogofunio.com/2024/03/08/the-italy-albania-protocol-on-migration-management-between-new-schemes-of-asylum-externalisation-and-risks-of-systematic-violations/.

Fazzini, A. (2021). Recenti sviluppi in materia di giurisdizione extraterritoriale a margine delle decisioni del Comitato ONU per i diritti umani, A.S. e al. c. Malta e A.S. e al. c. Italia: quale prospettiva per la Corte di Strasburgo? ADiM Blog, Analisi & Opinioni. https://www.adimblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ADiM-Blog-luglio-2021-Analisi-Opinioni-A.pdf

Gammeltoft-Hansen, T., & Tan, N. F. (2020, May 26). Adjudicating old questions in refugee law: MN and Others v Belgium and the limits of extraterritorial refoulement. European Migration Law Blog. https://eumigrationlawblog.eu/adjudicating-old-questions-in-refugee-law-mn-and-others-v-belgium-and-the-limits-of-extraterritorial-refoulement/?print=print

Gondek, M. (2005). Extraterritorial application of the European Convention on Human Rights. Territorial focus in the age of globalization? Netherlands International Law Review, 52, 349-387. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0165070X05003499

Jaulin, T., Mesnard, A., Savatic, F., Senne, J., & Thiollet, H. (2022). Externalization policies and their impacts on migrant and refugee flows to Europe in times of crisis: A preliminary study. Migration Governance and Asylum Crises. https://www.magyc.uliege.be/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-03/d.8.1-v3january2022.pdf

Ministers. (2024). Joint Letter from the undersigned Ministers on new solutions to address irregular migration to Europe. https://uim.dk/media/12635/joint-letter-to-the-european-commission-on-new-solutions-to-address-irregular-migration-to-europe.pdf

Policy Department for External Relations. (2020). EU External Migration Policy and the Protection of Human Rights. Director General for External Policies of the Union. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/226387/EU_External_Migration_Policy_and_the_Protection_of_Human_Rights.pdf

Presidency of the Council of Ministers. (2023). President Meloni’s press statement with the Prime Minister of Albania. Italian Government. https://www.governo.it/en/articolo/president-meloni-s-press-statement-prime-minister-albania/24195

Savino, M. (2024). La legge di ratifica ed esecuzione del Protocollo Italia-Albania: tre problemi di sostenibilità giuridica e amministrativa”. ADiM Blog. https://www.adimblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Savino-Editoriale_Gennaio-2024-1.2_DEF-DEF.pdf

Siccardi, C. (2024). La legge di ratifica ed esecuzione del Protocollo Italia-Albania per il rafforzamento della collaborazione in materia migratoria: problematiche costituzionali. Osservatorio Costituzionale, 2, 112-137.

UNHCR (2023). Commenti e raccomandazioni sul disegno di legge di “Ratifica ed esecuzione del Protocollo tra il Governo della Repubblica italiana e il Consiglio dei ministri della Repubblica di Albania per il rafforzamento della collaborazione in materia migratoria, fatto a Roma il 6 novembre 2023, nonché norme di coordinamento con l’ordinamento interno”. https://documenti.camera.it/leg19/documentiAcquisiti/COM01/Audizioni/leg19.com01.Audizioni.Altro.PUBBLICO.ideGes.27058.10-01-2024-19-04-46.245.pdf

Zanghì, C., & Panella, L. (2019). La protezione internazionale dei diritti dell’uomo. G. Giappichelli Editore.

Downloads

Published

09/16/2024

How to Cite

Belardo, E., & Squadrani, S. (2024). The Extraterritorial Protection of Migrants’ Human Rights: An Integrated Reading of the Italy-Albania Protocol and Article 25 of the Visa Code. Quarterly on Refugee Problems - AWR Bulletin, 63(3), 207–228. https://doi.org/10.57947/qrp.v63i3.155

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.