Albanians who want to travel to the European Union do not need to do so first Apply for a Schengen visa. The European Commission has rejected a request to this effect from the Dutch government, writes Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs to the House of Representatives.
Blok made that request after the House of Representatives had requested this in April 2019. A majority in the House wanted the measure to make it more difficult for Albanian criminals to travel to the EU and especially the Netherlands. Albanian gangs are regularly involved in shoplifting and home burglaries. The minister already assumed that he would back down from the European Union because there was little support for the plan. Albanians have been allowed since 2010 visa-free travel in the EU.
The European Commission has stated that the conditions for the Dutch request have not been met. According to Brussels, there is no 'substantial' increase in Albanian crime in the Netherlands. However, the Commission believes that Albania should make more efforts to comply with the conditions of visa liberalisation.
Source: Europa.nu
