Giorgia Meloni is making a fresh attempt at reviving her stalled plan to detain irregular migrants in Albania, after the Italian government secured a partial legal victory following several setbacks.

New legislation passed in January requires Italian appeals courts to approve the detention of asylum seekers rather than special immigration services.

An Italian navy ship carrying 49 migrants picked up in international waters arrived in Albania on Tuesday, amid a new attempt by Italy to push ahead with a legally contested plan to relocate migrants to the neighbouring country.