TIRANA TIMES
TIRANA, July 21 – Interior Minister Lulzim Basha told the Albanian parliament’s national security commission this week that the government had already fulfilled all the requirements set by EU Schengen members on getting a visa-free regime for Albania.
In May, the European Commission gave a positive answer on Albania’s fulfillment of the requirements, but added three benchmarks, which the minister said have already been fulfilled.
A delegation of EC experts visited the country last week, and the government said they were pleased with the results.
In September, the European Parliament is expected to give its OK to the visa-free regime and then it is up to the EU Council of Interior Ministers to give the final approval. Following that, if positive, Albanians will have to wait for about three weeks until their decision is published at the official bulletin.
The minister was also pleased with the number of the biometric passports distributed and applied for from the Albanians. Their number has reached up to 800,000 while some 2.2 million Albanians have or have applied for the identity cards.
The minister also spoke about the success in fighting the organized crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking, which are key benchmarks in this process.
Tirana is to hand over a final report on such practices Aug. 30.
“It is an improvement that we have fulfilled our duties. We trust our partners and believe they will continue with decision-making, especially with such unpopular ones like lifting of the visas at a time when the EU is involved in a very uncomfortable economic situation,” said the minister.
