Italy’s prime minister visits Albania as plan to hold migrants nears start

Policemen guard a reception centre for migrants at the port of Shenjin (Vlasov Sulaj/AP)

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni visited Albania on Wednesday to thank its government for its unique role in agreeing to host thousands of asylum-seekers while Italy processes their claims, and to tour migrant centres she said will be ready in August.

Ms Meloni denied her day trip was a campaign stop on the eve of the European Parliament election, in which migration is a big issue, and said criticism of the visit was typical opposition manoeuvring.