Hundreds of Albanians denied Schengen entry

TIRANA, July 31 – The Albanian police reported that some 1,700 Albanians have been denied entry in the Schengen EU member countries since the visa was lifted two years ago. The police border and immigration department said that during the first half this year there were 870 persons either denied entry or turned back due to lack of documentation or other justification.
Albanians managed to enter Western Europe without visas in December 2010 after the EU decided to end visa requirements for Bosnian and Albanian residents.
At the time Europe also told Albanians that the measure could be scrapped if it was abused for bogus asylum claims and illegal work.
That seemed to be an alert especially in late summer, early fall last year when some scores of Albanians, mainly from the north, had gone especially in Belgium asking for asylum.
Albanian authorities tried to respond in time and correctly in order not to negatively affect the whole population from such a right.
Albanians had never enjoyed a visa-free regime with Europe after the World War II.
Albanians were effectively isolated from the rest of the world since World War II, first by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and later because of travel restrictions imposed by EU countries after the communist regime was overthrown in 1990.
Authorities in Albania strongly warn the citizens not to abuse the visa-free regime to look for jobs or claim asylum in the EU, a problem faced by the 27-nation bloc after Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro were granted the same status a year ago.
The visa-free policy applies to the so-called Schengen zone of unfettered travel, which covers 25 EU member states, as well as three non-EU members – Iceland, Norway and Switzerland – but does not include Britain and Ireland.