An Italian coast-guard ship took back to Italy the first 12 migrants from newly opened immigration centers in Albania on October 19 after a court ruling in Rome.

Albania migrant deal argue it is undemocratic because the people of both countries have not been consulted. View on euronews

An Italian navy ship was expected to dock at the Albanian port of Shengjin with the first group of 16 migrants who were intercepted in international waters and whose asylum applications will be processed in two centers in Albania instead of in Italy, under a five-year agreement between the two countries.

Italy’s far-right government is rolling out what it says could be a model for solving one of the West’s most politically charged problems: illegal migration.

A ship carrying the first group of migrants to be processed in Albania under a deal with Italy arrived in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning, setting in motion the first scheme by a European Union state to divert asylum seekers abroad.

Italy's scheme to transfer asylum seekers to Albania has gotten underway. Critics accuse the far-right government in Rome of violating international humanitarian laws and creating a troubling model for other EU countries to follow.

An Italian navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin to bring the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters.

Italy has built two reception centres in Albania, in the first scheme by a EU nation to divert migrants to a non-EU country.