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The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA) of Albania reacted after the Dutch Parliament voted to ban the free movement in Schengen Area for Albanians.
MEFA informs the Albanian citizens that the vote of the Second House of Representatives in the Dutch Parliament to ask to the European Union to initiate the procedure for the temporary suspension of visa liberalization does not change the rules of movement towards Schengen countries.The Albanian citizens will continue to move freely to Schengen countries according to current practice and only fulfilling the conditions currently in force.
"An EU Member State may request the European Commission to open the procedure for the suspension of visa-free travel only on the basis of conditions well-defined in EU legislation and no conditions are met for submitting this request from the Netherlands for Albania. However, it is the European Commission that will review the request and answer it. Being objectively judged, according to official facts and figures, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is confident that the resolution can not find support in the European Commission since none of the criteria that would lead to the application of the temporary suspension mechanism is fulfilled in the case of Albania," MEFA explains.
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs finds the opportunity to call on Albanian citizens again to comply with the necessary documents before embarking toward Schengen. More information can be found on the MEFA official website.
"Illegal migration of Albanian citizens to the Netherlands has fallen continuously, while the suspension applies in case of an increase of more than 50%. Crime figures also are recording substantial decreases. Also, the last criterion concerning the cooperation between the law enforcement structures of both countries has been considered excellent by both Albanian and Dutch officials. The Government of the Republic of Albania is committed to continue intensifying the cooperation with the authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and with other EU member states in combating illegal cross-border activities. The electoral climate in the Netherlands undoubtedly has its own impact, and although we are sorry for Albania's entry into the party's agenda in this political race, there is no doubt in the fact that beyond the horizon of European elections the facts will prevail over electoral cliches", is explained further.