Albanians are disfavored on issuing visas, poll shows

TIRANA, June 10 – A poll conducted by non-governmental organizations showed that Albanians were the nationality most often refused visas from European Union member countries.
European Move in Albania, in collaboration with other counterparts in the Balkan region and the European Citizen Action Service based in Brussels, monitored how the visa facilitation procedures were respected by all Schenghen member countries for Albanians.
The monitoring showed that, on average, 23 percent of Albanians were rejected when applying for visas compared to 17 percent in other regional countries.
To further monitor such actions, and also urge a different attitude toward Albanians, the local NGO set up a phone line where Albanians may complain about their treatment from EU countries’ embassies.
The number will also serve to advise Albanians what they should do and bring when applying for a Schenghen visa.
The phone number is 04-2253184 (from 10:00-14:00 local time) and the e-mail address info@em-al.org.
The embassies which most often refused visas to Albanians are those of Greece, Germany, France, Austria and Italy.(Tirana Times Staff)