Albania's Constitutional Court says migration deal with Italy can go ahead if approved

Albania’s Constitutional Court says a deal can go ahead with Italy under which thousands of migrants rescued at sea by Italian authorities would be sent to Albania while their asylum applications are processed

TIRANA, Albania -- Albania’s Constitutional Court on Monday said a deal can go ahead with Italy under which thousands of migrants rescued at sea by Italian authorities would be sent to Albania while their asylum applications are processed.

Thirty Albanian lawmakers attempted to block the deal’s ratification by referring it to the court. Now the agreement signed in November between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni can be voted on in Parliament.

The court’s head, Holta Zacaj, called the deal “in line with the Constitution."

With Rama's left-wing Socialist Party holding 74 of Parliament's 140 seats, the deal is expected to pass. No date has been set for the parliamentary debate and vote.

The agreement, endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen but widely criticized by human rights groups, is part of Meloni’s efforts to share the work of addressing migration with other European countries.