Gov’t to help integrate repatriated persons

TIRANA, June 21 – Albania’s government has decided to create a special structure to deal with Albanians repatriated from Europe.
That is a key condition set before the EU offers Albania visa-free travel. And Albania was the first to sign the repatriation agreement with the European Union, trying to get the visa liberalization process concluded.
Albania was not included with Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to enjoy the visa free regime since last year. EU countries found out that some of their citizens exploited that regime to ask for asylum.
Groups of people, most of them Albanians from Macedonia and Serbia, applied for asylum in some EU countries after Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro were included in the Schengen white list.
Before Brussels makes a decision, Albania has to boost efforts in the fight against corruption and implement a law that would allow officials to seize the assets of criminals.
Albania has fulfilled all the benchmarks set at the roadmap of the European Union. Tirana also says it has already fulfilled at least two out of three added benchmarks, before the EU missions of experts visit the country next month.
Then it will be up to the European Parliament to vote and the EU’s Council to give the final ok, likely by November, before Albanians may go without a visa to the EU member countries, but Britain and Ireland.