TIRANA, Feb.1 – The Netherlands will speed up the repatriation of Albanian asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice informed through a press release last Friday. Dutch officials have reached an agreement with Albanian authorities for the quick repatriation of Albanian immigrants since Albania was included on the list of safe countries of origin last November.
The Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice also informed that they are no longer dependent on commercial carriers and as a result large groups can be deported at the same time. As a result of the new measures, Dutch officials are hoping that Albanians will now opt for voluntary departure before authorities resort to forceful deportation from the country.
The Netherlands has witnessed a surge in asylum claims from Albanian nationals recently, with 750 applications filed in the last four months alone. The total number of applications for 2015 amounted to over a thousand significantly up compared to less than a hundred registered in the previous year. However, all asylum requests were eventually turned down.
