All News on Social Issues in Albania
Albania Starts Preparing for Diaspora Summit
Ahead of a major summit of Albanian diaspora communities from around the world, Albania is mulling the best ways of utilizing its large diaspora.
On November 2016, for the first time, the government plans to hold the first-ever diaspora summit, also marking 25 years of post-communist migration.
Albania Eyes Fresh, Longer, Ban on Hunting
Albanian is preparing to impose a new ban on shooting of animals and birds for another five years.
The Ministry of Environment told BIRN that the new draft law is on its way and is expected to pass parliament in July and take effect early in the autumn.
Austria to deploy military on its borders with Italy
Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil told Austrian newspaper ‘Osterreich’ that 3 military battalions were ready to deploy in the state of Tirol in light of the refugee crisis. His new statements come a day after he told news outlets Saturday that tighter military border controls were necessary on the borders of Greece, Italy and Bulgaria to stem immigration flows.
Italy to Help Albania Stop Refugee Influx
Italian police are to help their counterparts in Albania stop a feared influx of refugees after countries on the so-called Balkan route closed their borders.
Worried that refugees may divert their route to Western Europe through Albania and the Adriatic Sea - ending up in Puglia - Italian authorities have decided to invest in preventing such a situation.
Frontex Doesn't Rule Out Migrant Route through Bulgaria
Bulgaria might be affected to a bigger extent by the migrant crisis after the Western Balkans route is closed, EU border agency Frontex's Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri has said.
Greece more isolated than ever, turns to US for aid on refugee crisis
The Greek government is scrambling to find aid in its efforts to deal with the humanitarian refugee crisis.
Kathimerini: Bulgaria, Albania Take Action Fearing Refugee Influx
Bulgaria and Albania are beefing up security along their border with Greece in fear that "thousands of refugees may show up at their doorstep," Greek daily Kathimerini writes.
The development follows the "official" closure of the so-called Western Balkans route for migrants crossing into Europe from Turkey and heading further west to Germany.
Croatia's Tourism Not Influenced by Refugee Crisis
Since speculations of the refugee wave diverting to Albania from Greece have arisen, Croatia is preparing to prevent any refugees from entering the most south point on the border with Montenegro.
Albania Mulls Refugee Scenarios With Neighbours
As Western Balkan states act together to stop the flow of refugees on the old land route through the Balkans, Albania is holding negotiations with neighbouring Greece and Italy about a possible influx across its own borders.
Macedonia Also Moves to Close Western Balkan Route to Migrants
Macedonia has also moved to close its borders to migrants traveling on the so-called Western Balkan route.
No new arrival of asylum-seekers in the Gevgelija refugee transit centre has been registered for more than fifty hours, which means that this section of the Western Balkan route has been practically closed.
Der Standard: European leaders to announce the closing of the ‘Western Balkan route’
Austrian newspaper Der Standard revealed that European leaders are planning to announce the closing of the Western Balkan route at European Summit to be held on Monday.
Albania Fears Becoming Part of 'Refugee Route'
Albania fears becoming part of the Balkan "refugee route", now that Macedonia has tightened border controls, leaving some 10,000 people trapped in Greece on their way to Western Europe.
Until now, the most-used route has run through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia, avoiding Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania.
Migrants' possible new route would not include Serbia
German broadcaster n-tv is speculating that migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe from the Middle East "might find a new route."
The television published a drawing according to which migrants could in the future move from Greece toward Albania, and then toward Western Europe via Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia.
Albania's Socialist Leader 'Eroding Party Democracy'
Rama, who has led the Socialist Party since 2005, has expressed his intention to partially remove the 'one member, one vote' selection principle for party officials.
Gov’t prepares plan to integrate refugee children to Greek schools
Greek government prepares a plan to integrate refugee children into Greek schools accepting its fate to host for a long time and incorporate large groups of immigrants and refugees in Greece risking to alter the characteristics of many local communities and ignoring the long term implications of that decision, given that many European countries are refusing to share responsibility.