Visa-free travel tops Berisha’s agenda

TIRANA, Sep. 27 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has again said that getting a visa-free travel regime for Albania’s citizens remains one of the government’s top priorities.
Berisha has repeated that statement in almost every public meeting he has held of late, saying the government and the civil administration have made the utmost to fulfill all the benchmarks set from the European Union.
Albania is expecting to get the visa-free regime by December.
The European Union is likely to lift visa requirements for travelers from Albania and Bosnia this year, bringing the countries a step closer on the path toward EU integration.
Both countries have been promised membership in the bloc, but they have not started entry talks yet.
The EU’s parliament and member states are now set to end visa restrictions following a recommendation from the European Commission in May.
“There is no need for further delays,” said Tanja Fajon, a Socialist member of the European Parliament from Slovenia who oversees Balkan visa issues in the European legislature.
Travel liberalization is one tool used by the EU to shore up stability in a corner of Europe driven by ethnic conflicts in the past.
Bosnia and Albania, with populations of around 3.8 million and 3.2 million respectively, have had to prove their state institutions are able to deal with issues such as illegal immigration and trafficking along the drugs route from Asia to Europe.
In a report in September, the European Commission said it was happy with their progress as they considered Albania and Bosnia have taken all the necessary measures to fulfill all open benchmarks.
Fajon said the parliament’s main political groups were expected to back visa-free travel for Bosnia and Albania in an October session. Diplomats said EU governments would likely support the measures in November, despite continuing concerns about border protections.
Albania has also applied for the EU candidate status, which will also be considered in November if Brussels and EU members agree.