Italy says it is transferring 49 migrants picked up in the Mediterranean to new processing centers in Albania, in the third such attempt facing hurdles by courts.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s first attempt to have asylum seekers held for assessment overseas was immediately blocked by judges. Now another is underway.

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.

The Italian government's latest attempt to establish functional migrant camps in Albania saw asylum seekers loaded onto the navy vessel Cassiopea off Lampedusa on Sunday. The Cassiopea was expected to reach the port of Shengjin on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, despite ongoing legal challenges, reported the Associated Press.

Processing centres became operational in October but European judges ruled against detention of first groups transferred there

The Italian navy vessel Cassiopea detected 49 migrants during its patrols in the Mediterranean and is transferring them to processing centres in Albania, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday. This is the third attempt to process adult male migrants in Albania after the first two transfers under a scheme launched in October were blocked due to legal hurdles.