An Italian navy ship on Wednesday docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin to bring the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters to be processed there. The naval ship Libra left the port of Lampedusa on Monday with 16 men — 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt — who were rescued at sea after departing from Libya,

SHENGJIN, Albania (Reuters) -Two reception centres built in Albania to take in migrants arriving in Italy opened their doors on Friday, an Italian official said, part of a deal between the two countries aimed at curbing irregular migration into the European Union.

Two Albanian centers for migrants sent from Italy open their doors :::: The centers are part of a deal which will see irregular migrants arriving in Italy processed in Albania:: Gjader, Albania:: Shengjin,

Controversial camps set up in Albania to house migrants rescued in Italian waters are ready to start functioning, the Italian ambassador in Tirana said on Friday.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Saturday that the first migrants will arrive next week at two migrant centres Italy has set up on Albanian territory. "We expect to start next week," Piantedosi said at an event organized by daily newspaper the Il Foglio.