BRUSSELS, April 10 – The European Union/Commission reported Tuesday that it completed negotiations with Albania on visa facilitation. Negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Albania were concluded in Brussels. The conclusion of the negotiations was followed by the formal initialing of the agreement. The agreement could enter into force 6 or 7 months after initialing. Before the agreement can enter into force it needs to be approved by the EU Council and by Albania. This is a clear signal that the EU is keeping the door open for Albania and that it will keep to its commitments on the European perspective of the country. The visa facilitation agreement has advantages for all Albanian travelers in the form of low visa fee rates and speedier application procedures.
Beneficiaries
Document requirements will be simplified for certain groups of travelers, for example students, business people, journalists, participants in scientific and cultural activities and civil society representatives. It will be easier for such groups to get multiple entry visas and for certain categories of persons, such as students and pensioners, visas will be issued free of charge. This will increase exchange with the rest of Europe and thereby help preparations for EU accession. It can be expected to have a positive impact on economic and democratic development and contribute to stabilizing the region.
Visa facilitation is a first step towards visa-free travel, to which the people of the Western Balkans attach great importance.
Homework
Before the visa obligation is lifted, the countries of the region will have to significantly improve, in particular, their capacity to fight organized crime, corruption and illegal migration. They need also to strengthen border control and travel document security. Visa facilitation is part of a broader set of measures intended to promote people-to-people contact between Albania and the EU. They include awarding more scholarships for students and researchers from the region, notably through the Erasmus Mundus program, further cooperation in the areas of research, education and culture, including through participation in the relevant Community programs and agencies, and increased support for civil society dialogue.
