Tirana Times
TIRANA, Sep. 14 -The European Commission distributed Tuesday a report to all the European Parliament lawmakers that is very positive on how Albania and Bosnia have fulfilled the benchmarks of the visa liberalization roadmap.
The report will be voted on by the end of the month, and it means a provisional “yes” to the request of the two countries.
Albania and Bosnia were not included with Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia last year to enjoy such a visa-free regime from most of the European Union member countries. The EC added three more benchmarks last May that seem to have been accomplished well by the two countries. After the parliament approves the report, then it is up to the EU Interior Ministers to give the final okay. That meeting is expected to be done at the beginning of November, after the annual progress report is produced for all aspirants, including Albania that has also applied for the candidate status. If everything passes on normally, Albanians may expect to use the visa-free regime before the New Year.
Biometric passports, IDs to be issued abroad too
TIRANA, Sep. 14 -The Interior Ministry said this week they will open for four offices in other countries to issue the new biometric passports and identity cards to Albanian immigrants abroad.
The cost will be 90 and 10.5 euros respectively.
The move aims to avoid the rush of Albanian immigrants being forced to come home to collect their documents in the summer and winter vacations, causing long waits. About 1 million Albanians have already received the new biometric passports, and the number is even higher for the IDs.
Both procedures started last year. The biometric passports are made obligatory as the country is waiting to get the visa-free regime to and from the European Union. Only people with biometric passports will be allowed to travel visa-free.
