Albania's top court reviews controversial asylum deal with Italy

Albania's Constitutional Court will review a controversial deal on Thursday agreed with Italy to open two holding centres on Albanian soil for migrants rescued in Italian waters.

The agreement, signed by the Italian and Albanian prime ministers last year, has been criticised by opposition parties in both countries, as well as rights groups, resulting in a legal challenge taken up by the top court in Tirana.

"This agreement, which should be authorised in advance by the president of the Republic, also goes against international standards regarding the rights of migrants," a coalition of opposition parties in Albania said in a statement.

In December, the Constitutional Court suspended the procedures for ratifying the agreement in the Albanian parliament.

The judges have until March 6 to make a ruling, but their decision could be issued well before the deadline "given the interest of this case for both Albania and Italy", sources familiar with the matter said.

The deal allows for two centres to be established near the port of Shengjin, where migrants would register for asylum, as well as a facility in the same region to house those awaiting a response to their applications.

The two centres - to be managed by Italy - would be able to accommodate up to 3,000 migrants per month, according to official estimates.