Migrants rescued at sea while attempting to reach Italy are likely to see themselves transported to Albania beginning next month while their asylum claims are processed, under a controversial deal in which the small Balkan country will host thousands of asylum-seekers on Italy’s behalf.

Italy, which receives the most migrant arrivals in the European Union, is partially outsourcing the challenge from today, as it opens the first of two planned camps in neighbouring Albania. Migrants will only start to arrive at the camps once both are open and operational.

Italian officials have confirmed that Italy’s controversial new migrant processing centers in Albania won’t be operational for several more weeks because of construction delays

A controversial plan in Italy to set up detention camps in Albania for migrants picked up at sea has again been delayed, with a source close to the matter saying on Thursday it was a few weeks behind schedule.

Government-aligned MEPs have defended the plan to detain migrant arrivals in Albania rather than Italy, an arrangement NGOs have decried as "cruel".

Italy and Albania failed to meet a deadline on Thursday to open a controversial camp to hold migrants in the Balkan country until their asylum applications are processed.