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.

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

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

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.

One of the 49 migrants who were taken to Albania early on Tuesday by the Italian Navy's Cassiopea patrol vessel to undergo fast-track border procedures could be taken back to Italy after his condition was deemed to be incompatible with detention in the country,

Giorgia Meloni's government has built two reception centres in Albania, the first such deal involving a European Union nation diverting migrants to a non-EU country, but they have been empty since November after running into court opposition.

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

An Italian navy ship has dropped off 49 migrants in Albania after intercepting them in international waters, in the third attempt to carry out a contentious plan to relocate migrants to be processed under a deal between the two countries.