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

Thirty Albanian lawmakers attempted to block the deal’s ratification by referring it to the Constitutional Court.

Transcript

00:00 Albania's constitutional court has given the green light to a migrant deal with Italy.

00:06 It was referred to the court following an attempt at blocking its ratification by 30

00:10 Albanian lawmakers.

00:12 The deal can now be voted on in parliament, and with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's

00:17 left-wing Socialist Party holding 74 of parliament's 140 seats, the deal is expected to pass.

00:24 The agreement was signed in November between Rama and Italian Premier Giorgia Maloney.

00:30 In it, Albania agreed to give temporary shelter to thousands of migrants who reach Italy until

00:35 Italian authorities can process their asylum bids.

00:38 Two centres will also be set up in Albania to process asylum applications by people rescued

00:43 by Italian authorities in international waters.

00:46 The agreement, endorsed by the European Commission president but widely criticised by human rights

00:51 groups, is part of Maloney's efforts to share the work of addressing migration with other

00:55 European countries.

00:57 [SWOOSH]