Italian authorities have rejected the asylum requests of 43 asylum-seekers transferred to Albania in a speedy procedure that a non-governmental delegation observing the process said illegally deprived them of legal assistance.

Italian naval ship lands 49 people in Albania in a third transfer under controversial 2023 deal between Rome and Tirana.

Giorgia Meloni's government has built two reception centres in Albania, the first such deal involving a European Union nation diverting migrants to a non-EU country, but they have been empty since November after running into court opposition.

The Italian government's latest attempt to establish functional migrant camps in Albania saw asylum seekers loaded onto the navy vessel Cassiopea off Lampedusa on Sunday. The Cassiopea was expected to reach the port of Shengjin on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, despite ongoing legal challenges, reported the Associated Press.

The attempt at processing at special centres in Albania follows two previous failures in October and November.

All asylum requests of 43 migrants at an innovative but controversial new Italian-run processing centre in Albania have been rejected, officials said Thursday after six of the original 49, two adults adjudged vulnerable and four minors,