France may seek visa restoration with Albania

France may seek visa restoration with Albania if asylum seekers continue to abuse the country's hospitality.

According to official data from the French Interior Ministry published in the daily Le Figaro, Albania holds first place in the number of asylum seekers for 2017.

Starting in January this year, 7,256 Albanians have applied for asylum in France, a figure of 178,9% higher compared to the same period last year. Albania is thus ranked before countries like Afghanistan or Syria, which are involved in civil wars.

“To control the situation, Paris has been forced to search for Albania the same safeguard clause that it asked for Georgia and Ukraine: a visa restoration in case of hospitality abuse,” is written in the French daily.

According to the newspaper Le Figaro, at least 3 planes have arrived from France to Tirana this summer, with Albanians being denied asylum demand.

The situation is presented as highly disturbing, and French Interior Minister Gerard Collob is in constant contact with relevant authorities, where Albanian asylum seekers pose problems.

Referenced to the Netherlands, France also sees with concern the growing criminal activity of Albanian groups. According to the daily Le Figaro, some Albanians seek asylum as a result of Kanun.

This vulnerable community is threatened by human trafficking and prostitution, while Albanians who arrive massively in France are supported by powerful mafia groups.
Diplomatic exchanges between Paris and Tirana over this issue are intensifying, concludes the article Le Figaro.