No asylum: France places Albania on safe-country list

TIRANA, Jan. 7 – Albanian citizens can no longer seek asylum in France, as the country has included Albania in the list of safe countries.
Albania enjoyed the visa-free regime in 2010 letting its nationals travel free without asking for a visa in the EU member countries. But following the requests for asylum from thousands of such people from the Balkan countries, the EU countries decided to take steps to stop the phenomenon.
Albania has not been the highest contributor in asylum claims. Serbia and Macedonia had far more, but still there have been thousands of Albanians asking for asylum, saying they fear revenge in their country.
Authorities have pressed hard and have penalized some local officials and NGOs that have written letters to back claims of blood feuds in order to get asylum.
Albanian authorities said there has been a reduction in the number of Albanians asking for asylum in Belgium and Luxembourg. Local authorities have also waged public information campaigns telling people not to go to EU member countries and ask for asylum.