Albanians and Bosnians started on Wednesday to exploit the visa-free regime to the European Union Schengen countries. Likely due to the government’s public awareness and also their fear, no significant numbers were noted in the first days. Only a few were turned back lacking proper financial and health insurance support.
Tirana Times
TIRANA, Dec. 15 -The first Albanian citizens entered the European Union’s border-free Schengen area without visas on Wednesday, implementing the much-awaited EU home affairs ministers November decision to scrap travel permits for citizens Albania and Bosnia.
“I am glad that the moment has finally come for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania to travel freely to the European Union. Tomorrow will be a happy day and dreams will come true for many people,” said Tanja Fajon, the member of the European Parliament in Schengen issues in the Balkans. She made the comments in a statement on Tueday.
The Schengen area currently encompasses all EU states except Britain, Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria. It also includes Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
Albanian Interior Minister Lulzim Basha Wednesday morning headed a 50-person delegation made up of students and other common people going to Brussels to meet with top European Union officials and the next day to Rome, Italy to meet with Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and visit the capitol museum, where the EU’s founding Treaty of Rome is on display. In the afternoon a concert was held at capital Tirana’s Mother Teresa Square.
Travel agencies report a significant increase of the demand for New Year bookings abroad (though they gave no exact figures, their estimates range from 20 to 40 percent higher compared to last year).
Tirana’s streets are filled with small street traffic signs showing the length in kilometers to all capitals of the EU Schengen member countries.
Border police have increased the number of windows open at the border crossing, expecting a high number of Albanians going to visit their family members in neighboring Greece.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha said after NATO membership, visa liberalization was the “second major achievement since the fall of communism.”
Berisha also called on police to take strict measures with the launch of the free movement when the people will start going to EU countries so that they do not suffer any negative consequence from Albanian visitors.
“This is of a capital importance for the freedom and rights of each citizen who, starting from tomorrow will feel the European area as his own, moving freely and in full dignity.”
Local media outlets continuously broadcast some guidelines published at a leaflet issued from the EU and the Albanian Foreign Ministry on how Albanian citizen should respect some rules when traveling abroad, like having enough money, a destination address, a return ticket or health insurance.
“This is a special historic moment for Albanians travelers of all generations,” Berisha told reporters gathered at the Mother Teresa International Airport. “It’s the first flight that opens the curtain to a Europe without walls, because the Schengen wall has fallen,” he added.
Under the EU decision, Albanian citizens are now allowed to travel to a total of 28 nations that are either inside Europe’s borderless Schengen zone or aspire to join it.
In order to make the trip, Albanians must hold a biometric passport, proof of health insurance and necessary funds to cover the cost of travel and their visit.
