A decree, to be adopted at a cabinet meeting Monday, would enshrine in law the government’s definition of 22 countries as “safe”, which would mean Rome can fast-track applications from asylum seekers from those countries.

An Italian navy ship on Saturday took back to Italy the first 12 migrants from newly opened asylum processing centers in Albania following a court decision in Rome. The court ruling on Friday represents an early stumbling block to a five-year deal between Italy and Albania for Tirana to host 3,

An Italian coastguard vessel collected migrants held in reception centres in Albania on Saturday to transfer them to Italy, after a court ruling dealt a blow to Rome's plans to house migrants picked up at sea outside the EU.