TIRANA – An EU annual report that measures Albania’s membership readiness has expressed serous concern over an increase in asylum claims filed by Albanian citizens in several European countries.
The report, published today, also said Albanian authorities must do more to fight corruption and reform the justice system.
“The alarming increase of unfounded asylum applications lodged by Albanian citizens in the EU is a matter of serious concern,” the report notes. “Albanian authorities are expected to pursue their efforts to tackle the increasing number of manifestly unfounded asylum applications lodged by its citizens to EU member states and six Schengen-associated countries.”
The report also expressed concern that the track record of investigations, prosecutions and convictions in corruption cases remains limited.
“So far, there are only very few first instance convictions of corruption cases involving high-level state officials,” the report notes. “A number of high-profile cases, including some where evidence of alleged wrongdoing by high-level state officials, judges, mayors and former ministers was leaked to the media, have never been seriously investigated.”
As of last year, Albania is an EU candidate for membership, and the country hopes to open formal memberships negotiations soon, but EU officials have made it clear they want to see more progress before that happens. It could take a decade or more for Albania to become a full member at the current pace of progress.
Nov. 10, 2015 – This is a developing story. For a more in-depth version, please check out our upcoming print and online editions.
