An Italian navy ship has arrived in Albania with 49 migrants intercepted in international waters for processing of their asylum applications at special Albanian centers.

Italian authorities have rejected the asylum requests of 43 asylum-seekers transferred to Albania in a speedy procedure that a non-governmental delegation observing the process said illegally deprived them of legal assistance.

Italy's attempt to house migrants in non-EU member state Albania while Rome processes their asylum applications has already failed twice. Will things work out for Giorgia Meloni's government this time round?

Italy's attempt to house migrants in non-EU member state Albania while it processes their asylum applications has already failed twice. Will things work out for Giorgia Meloni's government this time round?

Italy's navy on Sunday was taking 49 migrants it picked up in international waters to detention facilities in Albania, the interior ministry said, resuming a plan to curb sea arrivals mired in legal controversy.

A Rome court has ordered 43 migrants detained in camps in Albania to be transferred to Italy, challenging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's policy to curb sea arrivals. The decision follows previous rulings questioning the legitimacy of holding migrants in Albania while processing their asylum requests.

New legislation passed in January requires Italian appeals courts to approve the detention of asylum seekers rather than special immigration services.

This marks the third time judges have ordered the transfer of migrants to Italy since the first group was taken to Albania in October last year.

Italian judges have blocked prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s scheme to detain migrants in centres in Albania, according to reports.

The Italian government has suffered another legal defeat over its efforts to process asylum applications by migrants arriving via the Mediterranean Sea in an offshore facility in Albania. An appeals court in Rome ruled that 43 men taken to two facilities in Albania must be released and brought back to Italy,

Italian naval ship lands 49 people in Albania in a third transfer under controversial 2023 deal between Rome and Tirana.