The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs informs the Albanian citizens that the vote in the Second Chamber of the States General, the Dutch Parliament, that the European Union should be asked to start proceedings for the temporary suspension of the liberalisation of visas, does not change the rules regarding movement to Schengen countries. The Albanian citizens will continue to move freely to Schengen countries, in compliance with the practice hitherto, and by only fulfilling the currently applicable requirements.

An EU Member State may ask the European Commission to start proceedings to suspend movements without a visa only on the basis of well-defined conditions, as provided for in the EU legislation, and no such condition is fulfilled for The Netherlands to file such request concerning Albania.

However, it is the European Commission the authority that will consider the request, and will provide an answer to it. Looking at it objectively, based on the official facts and figures, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is hopeful that the said resolution cannot be supported in the European Commission, given that none of the criteria required for the temporary suspension mechanism to be put in place, applies to Albania.

The rates of illegal immigration among the Albanian citizens have been declining constantly, whereas suspension is applied in the event of a surge of 50 %. Crime rate has also declined significantly.

Likewise, the last criterion concerns cooperation among the law-enforcement structures of both countries, which has been considered as excellent by both the Albanian and Dutch officials.

The Government of the Republic of Albania is committed to intensively carry on the cooperation with the authorities of the Kingdom of The Netherlands and with the other EU Member States so as to fight cross-border illegal activities.

The electoral climate in The Netherlands has certainly impacted on this, and even though we feel regret over Albania’s being put on the competing parties’ agenda, we have no doubts about the fact that, beyond the horizon of the European elections, facts will prevail over the electoral clichés.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs seizes the opportunity to once again call on the Albanian citizens to be make sure to be equipped with the required documents prior to travelling to Schengen countries. More information is available on the home page of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.