An Italian coastguard ship picked up migrants held in reception centres in Albania on Saturday for transfer to Italy, after a court ruling dealt a blow to Rome’s plans to house migrants picked up at sea outside the European Union.

The Italian government vowed on Friday to press ahead with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s flagship project to transfer asylum seekers abroad, saying it would appeal against a court decision to transfer migrants held in reception centres in Albania to Italy.

A cabinet meeting will be held on Monday to decide on the government’s response.

The migrants were transferred to Albania on board an Italian navy ship earlier this week.