Albania’s top court allows Italy migrant pact

A man walks at the port of Shengjin, northwestern Albania, one of two proposed locations to house migrants. [AP]

Albania's top court gave the green light on Monday to a deal letting Italy build migrant processing centers on Albanian territory, a scheme that has faced criticism from opposition and rights groups.

Lawmakers from Albania's opposition Democratic Party had challenged the agreement in the court, saying it broke the constitution by transferring territory and state power to another country.

The UN rights chief also said last week the plan raised concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions.

The project has drawn comparisons with the British government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, which has been challenged by Britain's Supreme Court. Brussels has since said that the Italian plans do not breach European Union law.

Albania's Constitutional Court ruled on Monday that the deal was "in accordance with the constitution" and said it could...

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