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

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.

Dozens of migrants arrived in Albania early on Tuesday, days after Italy resumed the transfer of asylum seekers to its maritime neighbour in a controversial programme that is under judicial review.

Tuesday's boat was the first to arrive in Albania following a monthslong pause. The European Court of Justice is set to review the scheme in February.

Italy has once again transferred migrants to Albania, despite previous legal defeats, after an Italian Navy ship carrying 49 refugees docked in the port of the Albanian city of Shëngjin, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Tuesday.

Italy has earmarked 650 million euros ($675 ... Meloni has repeatedly stressed that plans to process migrants outside EU borders in Albania had received strong backing from other European leaders.

Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed on Wednesday a deal worth at least 1 billion euros ($1 billion) to build a subsea interconnection to import renewable energy across the Adriatic Sea.

Italian judges twice refused to approve the detention of groups of migrants in Albanian centers in 2024. This is the Italian government's third attempt to outsource migrant processing in Albania.

An Italian navy ship carrying 49 migrants picked up in international waters arrived in Albania on Tuesday, amid a new attempt by Italy to push ahead with a legally contested plan to relocate migrants to the neighbouring country.

Italy has resumed sending illegal migrants to its new Albania processing centre as Giorgia Meloni, the country’s prime minister, attempts to circumvent the European Court of Justice (ECJ...

The attempt at processing at special centres in Albania follows two previous failures in October and November.