The Italian Interior Minister thanked the Albanian Government as the non-European Union country agreed to accept 20 of the 190 migrants who docked in Catania, Sicily, last week.

Speaking at a League party reception in the Italian northern town of Pinzolo, Mr Salvini argued the Albanian Government demonstrated to be "better" than the French one.

Ireland was the only EU member state to have agreed to welcome some of the migrants despite Emmanuel Macron's promises to Italy to share the burden of asylum seekers.

Speaking to League supporters Mr Salvini said: “Do you know where some of the migrants will end up as they disembark in the next few hours?


“In a miraculous result, unseen for the last 20 years, some of the migrants will go to Albania.

“In this instance, the Albanian Government showed to be better than the French Government.

“I say thank you to Albania and shame on you to France as well as all of the others that couldn’t be bothered to care.

“A lot of talks but very little action from them.”

The Italian eurosceptic had originally refused to authorise the disembarkment of 190 migrants on board the rescue ship Diciotto last week.

Only some children and others with health problems were allowed to disembark the rescue ship.

Eventually, all migrants were allowed to disembark on Saturday night ending a five-day dispute between the EU and Mr Salvini.

Ireland is the only EU state that offered to help, it will take between 20 and 25 migrants.


Italy’s Catholic Church will take the remainder, which Mr Salvini declared would be at zero cost to the Italian taxpayers.

The Italian Interior Minister is now under investigation by a Sicilian prosecutor for abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal arrest

On Thursday, with no solution in sight, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said the coalition government, formed of the Five Star Movement (MS5) and La Lega, would vote to suspend funding to the EU next year.