TIRANA, July 20 – Belgium has added Albania back to a list of safe countries of origin, Albania’s ministry of interior has confirmed. According to the announcement, the decision means that all asylum requests submitted by Albanian citizens will not be accepted. Furthermore, all asylum seeker applications will be processed in an accelerated procedures and have little chance to be granted asylum.
Belgium initiated a list of safe countries of origin in 2012 in an attempt to halt the high level of asylum seekers.
Earlier in June, Belgium’s Council of State decided to remove Albania from the list of safe countries of origin following an increase in the number of Albanian asylum seekers. Under a June 23 decision, the Council which also serves as Belgium’s Supreme Administrative Court said it was making the decision because of the high number of Albanians who were granted international protection prior to the introduction of the list of safe countries of origin in 2012.
“However the central government of Belgium did not agree to the recommendation to remove Albania from the list of safe countries of origin. Government officials argued that Albania is a safe country and its citizens do not need international protection,” said the interior ministry.
In Belgium, the list of safe countries of origin which includes Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and India is adopted by Royal Decree and is reviewed at least once a year.
