TIRANA, Dec. 2 – Interior Minister Lulzim Basha said on Tuesday that Albania would soon join the visa-free regime with the European Union as it had fulfilled most of the requirements of the EU stipulated road map.
Following his visit to Brussels the minister said the European Commission confirmed its preparedness to speed up visa liberalization for Albania.
The European Union’s decision to lift the visas for the citizens of FYROM, Serbia and Montenegro is good news for Albania, said Basha.
Basha was present at the ceremony of the visa liberalization for the three neighboring Balkan countries which starts Dec. 19 for all citizens with a biometric passport.
Basha also met with EC Commissioner on Justice and Security Jacques Barrot, Swedish Interior Minister Tobias Billstrom (Sweden has the EU presidency until end of the year) and other counterparts of the region.
Basha said that Albania had fulfilled most of the requirements.
Europe has continued to stress to Tirana that it must fight more aggressively against corruption, organized crime and drug and human trafficking.
An EC monitoring mission is to visit the country in mid-December.
Tirana expects Brussels to give the green light in mid-2010.
Albanians to soon join visa-free regime
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