President Bajram Begaj of Albania underlined the goal of his country to become EU members until 2030 on Tuesday during his visit to Austria. The Balkan State wants to do its “homework” and also offers an important partner in migration policy.
The so-called Albania model, which the Italian government is currently trying out, is part of the solution to the problem of irregular migration, emphasizes the Albanian head of state during a joint press conference with federal president Alexander van der Bellen.
As is known, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has built two recording centers for people who are included in the Mediterranean Sea in a bilateral agreement with Albania. There – outside the EU – Italian officials must decide on their asylum applications in the rapid procedure. The Italian judiciary has stopped this.
Now the European Court of Justice (ECJ) deals with it. According to new plans, Rome wants to use the centers as thrust prisons – for asylum seekers whose applications have already been rejected by Italy. Other EU countries, including Austria, look at the “model project”. Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner has launched comparable projects several times.
“… otherwise a political vacuum will arise”
Van der Bellen praised the “impressive change” of Albania in the last ten years. Albania had become a “forerunner of the EU candidate countries”. The red-white-red head of state confirmed the support of Austria for the EU integration of Albania and the five other Western balcony states of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Noord-Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo. Austria and other countries of the group “Friends of the Western Balkan” formed in 2023 would “promote and advise these countries” and promote other EU countries to “take the candidates seriously”. The accession of the six Western Balkans is ‘good and important’, Van der Bellen emphasized. Otherwise there is a political vacuum that other countries fill in, “and that cannot be in the interest of the European Union”.
Albanian military cooperation “No reason to worry”
Begaj has also tackled the currently tense situation on the West Balkan. In addition to the crisis in the Bosnian Republica SRPSKA, a recently agreed military cooperation between Albania, Croatia and Kosovo causes excitement. However, the state guest from Albania tried to calm down: this was “no reason to worry”. The partnership statement may also not be experienced as a threat by Serbia. In the past, the countries involved had “never been interested in a conflict”. The path to peace and stability consists of dialogue and compromises. It’s about “doing better” daily life, said the Albanian president.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
