TIRANA, November 12 – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declared that the agreement between Albania and Italy on illegal immigrants, who are rescued at the Mediterranean is a bilateral issue, but Berlin will follow it carefully since Albania will also soon be a member of the European Union.
It is illegal migration that must be reduced and for this there will be closer cooperation with countries outside the European Union, he said
“We will monitor it carefully. What is important is the establishment of a mechanism of solidarity in the EU and not trying to win the challenges alone”, said Scholz from Malaga, where he participated in the summit of the European Socialist Party on Saturday.
In addition he said that it is an issue between the two governments, but it should also be taken into account that Tirana, in our opinion, will soon become a member of the European Union. “We are talking about how to solve challenges and problems together. We want to create a solidarity mechanism. We will carefully follow this agreement,” said the German Chancellor quoted by foreign and local media.
He noted that what is important is that the challenges are not overcome alone, but also with allies, whether they are outside the EU. “It is necessary to reduce irregular immigration. For this reason, there will be close cooperation with countries outside the EU as is happening now with Turkey. But there may be other ways,” said Sholz.
The pact between Italy and Albania foresees the creation of a reception center in the port of Shengjin and an accommodation center in Gjadër of Lezha, which will be under Italian jurisdiction. According to the agreement between the Albanian and Italian prime ministers, this center will hold no more than 3,000 immigrants who will be waiting for the examination of the asylum request. /argumentum.al