Albania hopes for visa liberalization

TIRANA, May 4 – Albanians are hoping very much that they will get visa liberalization with the European Union this year.
Naturally their hopes get higher ahead of the June 28th parliamentary elections as the government of the Democratic Party’s Prime Minister Sali Berisha is insisting with that promise along its political campaign.
The European Commission supports Albania’s expectation for visa liberalization, but the country must meet the conditions beforehand, a Commission official said while visiting Albania late last week.
The European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot stressed that main conditions for lifting visa requirements for Albanian citizens include the fight against organized crime and corruption, effective measures against trafficking in drugs and persons, and the implementation of necessary reforms.
The European Commission’s vice-president said the country has made good progress in the reforms and the country has a good chance of becoming a member of the European Union.
Barrot praised the success of reforms undertaken by the government, particularly in combating organized crime, illegal trafficking and other reforms, and praised the successes achieved in the country, which led Albania to a new stage, that of NATO membership and application for European Union candidate status.
He also considered the process of visa liberalization by considering it as a necessity and stressed that the smooth implementation of the Agreement on visa facilitation is a positive sign that indicates the willingness of the EU to achieve the full liberalization of free movement.
The European Commission is to publish on May 18th a report on Balkan countries’ readiness for lifting the visa regime. The report will be dedicated mainly to the evaluation on the progress registered so far but it will also make it clear for which countries could soon have the visa regime lifted.
Then the European Commission would officially give recommendations about the countries’ expectations.