All News on Social Issues in Albania
1990s Albanian Refugee Route Could Reopen
Albania has said it is ready to play its part in the European Union plan for accommodating 100,000 refugees in the Balkans, but Tirana also fears that the country could be used as a new route to Western Europe for incoming migrants.
Balkans to Accommodate 100,000 Refugees
An agreement was reached at the high-level meeting in Brussels on Sunday to temporary accommodate 100,000 refugees in the Balkans as Europe struggles to cope with the ongoing influx.
Germany Puts in Place Tougher Asylum Rules
New, tougher asylum rules will take effect in Germany on Saturday, a week earlier than planned, as the country is faced with an unprecedented migrant influx, AFP has reported.
Balkans 'Losing Human Capital', World Bank Warns
A new World Bank report on the economies of the six Balkan countries, published on Monday, warns that the region is losing a vital part of its young and educated population and urges governments to take action to deal with the consequences.
Albania Mulls Possible Influx of Refugees
Albania's government has set up a working group at ministerial level to prepare for a possible influx of refugees, although Albania has not yet been affected by the mass movement of people across the Balkans.
Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi said the government was preparing itself for a possible influx amid internet reports of expected arrivals.
Albania Would Welcome Refugees, Rama Says
Prime Minister Edi Rama, who was visiting Puglia in southern Italy, told the online edition of Corriere Della Sera on Tuesday that Albania would welcome Syrian refugees - although refugees crossing the Balkans towards Germany had largely bypassed Albania so far.
EU Ban on Balkan Asylum Seekers Alarms Roma
Roma associations in Macedonia - home to a large community - have condemned EU plans to exclude Balkan nations from claiming asylum as part of measures to cope with the growing refugee crisis.
Balkan States Told to Take in More Refugees
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, on Wednesday proposed a new plan for accepting 160,000 refugees in the EU and at the same time proposed that non-EU countries in the Western Balkans be put on a list of safe countries.
The proposition presented to the European Parliament adds another 40,000 to an existing plan for quotas set in May.
Germany Curbs Balkan Rights to Claim Asylum
Germany on Monday announced that Kosovo, Albania or Montenegro would be classified as "safe countries of origin", which means that people who come to Germany from those countries will be sent back more quickly, as few will be able to obtain asylum status.
Refugee Crisis to Overshadow Balkan Summit
The refugee crisis threatens to effectively hijack a high-level conference on the economic prospects and European perspectives of the Western Balkan states that opens in Vienna on Thursday.
The summit includes senior politicians from the EU and the Balkans under the patronage of the German and Austrian chancellors, Angela Merkel and Werner Faymann.
Bulgaria Pledges Support for Macedonia's Integration into EU, NATO
Bulgaria is ready to help neighbouring Macedonia meet the requirements for joining the European Union and NATO, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Monday.
He also said that increased migrant influx to Macedonia highlights the need to strengthen considerably the European integration of the countries of the western Balkans.
Asylum Claims from Balkans Surge in Germany
Germany faced another increase in the number of asylum requests from citizens of the six Western Balkans Countries in July, despite repeated efforts by German and local authorities to halt the phenomenon.
Merkel says migrants bigger challenge for EU than Greek debt crisis
Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 16 condemned a surge in German attacks on refugee shelters and warned that the issue of asylum could become a bigger challenge for the European Union than the Greek debt crisis.
Germany to Curb Mass Migration from Albania
The two countries have stepped up joint efforts this week to stop Albanian migrants heading for Germany after more than 20,000 arrived over the past few months.
On Wednesday, about 70 asylum-seekers from Albania landed at Tirana International Airport after being deported from Germany.
Albania MPs Back Controversial Education Law
Albania's parliament adopted controversial government-sponsored higher educational reforms at 2.30am on Wednesday after nine hours of debate. The law was approved by 78 votes out of 140.
Outside parliament, protesters, professors and civil rights activists protested against the law that they call an attack on public universities.