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Tirana, 18 March 2016
First of all, I would like to thank the whole political leadership and personally: President Nishani, Prime Minister Rama, Foreign Minister Bushati and Interior Minister Tahiri for their warm welcome and hospitality.
Minister Tahiri and I, just had a very constructive discussion about our cooperation in addressing shared migration and security challenges.
I also want to take this opportunity to commend Albania’s involvement in addressing the current refugee crisis, in the framework of the meetings of the Western Balkans Migration Route.
So far, there is no indication that Albania has been affected by sudden large inflows of migrants, but we have to be prepared for all eventualities, and the Commission, together with Frontex, is constantly monitoring the situation on the ground.
That is why I welcome the drafting of a contingency plan by the Albanian government, to address a possible influx of migrants and refugees.
Needless to say, the Commission will provide all relevant support, if requested.
In the meantime, the Commission is providing financial support to Albania via different instruments.
The Commission has also proposed to recognise Albania a safe country of origin in its proposal for a European list of safe countries of origin.
However, Albania must also do more to reduce the irregular migration of its citizens.
This will require a number of measures, such as: effective border protection and info exchange with Member States;
– cracking down on facilitators of irregular migration such as bus or transport companies
– effective information campaigns about the rights and obligations of visa-free travel
– and cooperating with Member States on document fraud.
By applying these measures, asylum applications by Albanian citizens will surely decrease in the months and years to come.
The other important element that we discussed is security. We need to strengthen our cooperation in order to fight organised crime and to counter terrorism.
For example, we must work closer together in combatting the trafficking of firearms in Europe, in the framework of the Commission’s Action Plan which we adopted last December.
We must also cooperate in the framework of the Western Balkan counter-terrorism initiative to prevent radicalisation, to counter terrorist activities, and to address the terrorist financing.
I would like to emphasize the impressive work done in reforming the police.
The results are already visible: in the fight against drugs and in particular against police corruption.
We are confident that Albania will continue this path by adopting necessary reforms in all sectors: Institutional reforms, Administrative, Judiciary.
Dear friends,
Migration and security challenges know no borders today. Whether EU or non-EU country, we are all in the same boat – and we can only address these issues effectively
if we work together.
My presence here today is meant to send a clear signal of the importance to consolidate and streamline all of our efforts in the field of migration and home affairs, and to apply coordinated Europe-wide solutions.
To achieve such results, we must all work together in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity.
The EU is a partner of Albania, and Albania is a partner of the EU.
I would therefore, once again, like to thank the Albanian government for having invited me to Tirana and I look forward to our even closer cooperation on all issues of common concern.
Thank you