Albania has recently garnered attention due to its involvement in a controversial agreement with Italy regarding the processing of asylum claims. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's plan, Albania will handle asylum applications for Italy, with successful claimants relocated to Italy and those from safe countries returned home. This arrangement has sparked debate, with critics likening the asylum centers in Albania to the UK's Rwanda scheme, which faced significant backlash. Additionally, the Albanian national football team has been in the spotlight, particularly following the ban of forward Mirlind Daku for leading fans in derogatory chants during a Euro 2024 match.
Albania, officially the Republic of Albania (Republika e Shqipërisë), is located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, and has a coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by various civilizations, including the Illyrians, Romans, and Ottomans. Albania transitioned from a communist regime to a parliamentary democracy in the early 1990s and has since pursued integration into European structures, aspiring to join the European Union. Despite facing challenges such as economic development and migration issues, Albania continues to evolve as a nation with a unique identity and strategic geopolitical significance.
