Gov’t pushes for public awareness before visa liberalization

TIRANA, May 24 – Albanian authorities are trying to prepare the population and make them aware of the rights and duties they will enjoy when they will have the visa-free regime with the Schengen area countries.
Albania expects the decision to be made early next month and likely to enter into force later this year.
The interior ministry has established a special fund to inform the public about the EU visa liberalization process.
About 350,000 euros will be spent to prepare TV spots and run them on national stations, said the ministry, adding the government wants to make sure people are aware of both the benefits and restrictions involved with visa-free travel.
Albania and Bosnia couldn’t join Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia last year. But they are also trying to learn from the lessons following problems caused from some Serbian citizens trying to get the asylum status after going to Belgium following visa liberalization in December last year.