TIRANA, June 14 – Some 40 organizations of the EPA member state plus Switzerland have sent a letter to the authorities of the United Kingdom, where they ask that Albania be removed from the list of ‘safe countries’, due to the high number of asylum seekers.
The letter in question lists some of the problems that are problematic in that Balkan country, such as corruption, human trafficking, gangs, or discrimination of the LGBTQI community, Roma and Egyptians.
“We would like to draw your attention to Amendment 12BA, proposed by Baroness Lister and Lord Cashman, and to seek your individual support in addressing a critical issue within the current illegal Migration Bill,” said the letter.
According to the letter, the bill as it stands will classify Albania among a list of ‘safe countries’ whose citizens can be swiftly returned home regardless of their individual asylum or human rights claim.
“Albania does not belong either in affiliation, nor does it meet the requisite standards to be classified as a ‘safe country’,” said the international organizations.
Albania does not belong to the EU, nor does it meet the necessary standards to be classified as a ‘safe country’. The UNHCR has rightly expressed its concerns, stating that certain groups of Albanian citizens may be at risk of persecution.
“We, the undersigned, stand resolutely in support of this amendment to remove Albania from the list of ‘safe countries'” and reject Albania’s classification as ‘safe country’ within the current Migration Bill. /argumentum.al
