Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati together with the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Alberto Cutillio, held a press conference announcing the recent agreement between the two foreign ministries on the procedure for removal of translation certification from the side of the Italian Embassy.

Minister Bushati underlined that: “After Austria and Belgium, Italy is the third case of establishing such a practice, but of course the impact is several times higher, as a considerable number of Albanian citizens live and work in Italy”.

The procedure for removal of certification from their side comes into force on January 1^st, 2019, and it is a relief for our citizens, consisting on both reduced time limits and financial costs, considering that this process, including certification of the translated document, will now be completed by the Legalization Sector in the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA). Beginning January 1^st, 2019, the Legalization Sector of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA), as part of this agreement, will legalize both the original document and its translation.

In his speech, Minister Bushati stressed that “along with this positive step, in an escalating manner, like we have done for a large number of consular services that are currently offered electronically thanks to the cooperation with the Italian government, at this moment we come with a new package for 2019, in the context of our increased attention to Albanian citizens who live in and contribute to Italy, but also as part of the consular service reform.”

According to the new agreement, after having the document translated by a public notary, translation certification will no longer be done through the Italian Embassy but through the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Through this agreement the time of receiving the service is reduced by 4 days and a total of 2,830 ALL are saved. In the course of one year, about 110,000 Albanian documents are legalized for use in Italy, which means that with the new procedure Albanian citizens can save about 311.300.000 ALL.

Speech by Minister Ditmir Bushati

Hello to everyone,

I have the pleasure to be in front of you in this public communication about some important news for our citizens living in Italy. It is about facilitating an important procedure that will start its application from 1 January 2019, i.e. in just a few days from now, thanks to the close and excellent cooperation with the Italian government. On this occasion, let me thank first the Ambassador of Italy to Albania, Mr. Cutillio for such a collaboration.

Together with our consular services team and thanks to this work, from 1 January 2019, the certification of the translation of the document that our citizens have been making to date with the Italian Embassy will be removed.

Italy is the third case, after abolition of such a practice with Austria and Belgium, but of course the impact is several times greater, given that a considerable number of Albanian citizens live and work in Italy. Therefore, we decided to make a special communication for this event.

The practice so far is known. A document had to be translated, notarized by the notary officer, legalized by the Italian Embassy, before this process or document becomes valid in Italy, and it is known that Albanian citizens would have to come at least twice to the MEFA.

I can say that only during the current year that will soon be over, there are over 100 thousand cases of Albanian citizens who have followed this bureaucratic procedure that I tried to clarify and we believe that with the time reduction and cost reduction, the value that will not be spent anymore, or will be stored in the pockets of Albanian, is about 2.6 million euros.

We therefore think that in addition to this positive step, in an escalating manner, like we have done for a large number of consular services that are currently offered electronically, thanks to the cooperation with the Italian government, at this moment we are coming up with a new package for 2019 in the context of our increased attention to Albanian citizens who live in and contribute to Italy, and also as part of the entire consular service reform. As you know, earlier we have had the opportunity to realize the issuance online of civil status certificates, verification and issuance of judicial status confirmation, reporting of lost, stolen and/or damaged passports and identity cards.

In the step we take today, which comes into force on January 1^st, i.e. in just a few days, we have the opportunity to reduce once again the time and save the expenses that our citizens have been making until the moment we speak. I recall here that a few weeks ago I was able to have an interpellation with a part of the Albanian community living in the region of North Italy and this was one of the most sensitive topics in discussion with our community living there. Therefore, I am glad that today we have the opportunity to offer a new service that will be received with a reduced financial cost, within a shorter time frame and, of course, to stay closer to the needs of our community living in Italy.

On this occasion, allow me to pass the floor to the Ambassador of Italy in Albania, Mr. Alberto Cutillio.

Please Mr. Ambassador.

Speech by Ambassador of Italy in Albania, Alberto Cutillo

Thank you, Mr. Minister, as more or less, you said almost everything.

I would just like to point out in my own that the joint decision we made, as Italian Foreign Ministry and Embassy, to pass this legalization procedure on to the Albanian Foreign Ministry is first and foremost a sign of trust and friendship between our two countries.

I would also say a sign or a gesture in some way that the Embassy is also losing some profits, let’s say. The Minister mentioned some figures, but anyway the service that will be provided by the Albanian Foreign Ministry will be extraordinary and the citizens will have no problem. Also, the required time will be even shorter.

I would like to note and thank the staff of the Embassy because over the years they have made every effort to reduce the time needed for legalization. Further, I would like to thank the Albanian Post Office for the co-operation, but anyway, this requires even lower costs.

Attention to citizens is also part of the political agenda of our two countries. I would also like to pass on some important information to the citizens because precisely as of January 1^st, as the Minister said, the procedure to be followed by those who want to legalize documents for use in Italy (i.e. to be valid in Italy) requires that documents must first be translated by one of the certified translators, whose signature is deposited with the Albanian Ministry of Justice.

They will then have to appear before a notary who legalizes and recognizes the signature of the translator and his legal integrity and, after that, citizens will go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conclude the procedure by obtaining the apostille, as provided for in Article 1 of The Hague Convention of 1961 and recognized by all States that are part of and which have accepted this Convention, and then appear in Italy for the necessary use.

I would also like to point out that the Albanian citizens living in Italy, and this would be simpler, they can have the documents translated by a certified translator in Italy at the courts or notary. However, it is an action, or a step that can be taken by Albanian citizens living in Italy, but the cost will be a little higher than in Albania.

Such a step will enable us to free some human resources that are currently engaged in the consular service at the Embassy and we can then engage them in other services. It is a step taken to the benefit of the citizens and further enhancement of the Albanian Public Administration, which we would like to both thank and congratulate.

Thanks Mr. Minister, to you and your staff, for this task that will be carried out starting from January 1st.

Allow me to also extend my thanks, congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the season holidays.