TIRANA, October 18 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted for the first time after the news of the last few days that the Czech Republic has requested the restoration of the visa regime for Albania and Serbia, since the two countries have failed to stop illegal immigrants on their way to Europe.
Czech Republic holds the rotating EU Presidency.
Prime Minister Rama called it a rumor and reminded former Prime Minister Sali Berisha of his designation as “non-grata” by the US.
“Everyone knows who has been crossed out in Albania. No one should be surprised how the rumor that the EU will return the visa regime is spreading! Non-grata has no chance to be removed, visas are unlikely to be issued and the ruble opposition, no matter how hard it tries, will not give up ‘#RublaÇorba’ noise,” said Rama on Twitter on Tuesday.
In the meantime SchengenVisaInfo.com reported a few days ago that given that Serbia and Albania never fully aligned their overseas visa waiver lists with the EU, even though they enjoy visa-free travel in the bloc, according to the Czech EU Presidency this contributes to the increase in the number of irregular migrants entering the EU through this route.
According to local Czech media, ideas to reduce the numbers include diplomatic pressure on Albania and Serbia to harmonize visa waivers and bring back more irregular migrants and sending EU border guards to Western Balkan states, and pressure on airlines to prevent “abuse”.
Moreover, Prague, which holds the EU presidency until the end of the year, proposed the suspension of visa-free travel from Albania and Serbia.
There has not been any reaction on this by the Czech Embassy in Tirana.
/Argumentum.al
