The Country of Return Information Project functions as a network of NGO’s for the collection and transfer of specific information on reintegration possibilities for potential returnees and their counsellors. All questions you may have on reintegration possibilities and on which you don’t find the answer in this country sheet, can be directed to the helpdesk “Country of Return Information and Vulnerable Groups”. E-mail: [email protected] COUNTRY SHEET ALBANIA The Country of Return Information Project runs until the December end of 2007 and is funded by the European Community. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided. Sole 2008 responsibility for its content lies with the author. DISCLAIMER This Country Sheet is for informational purposes only and no rights can be derived from its contents. The CRI-partners will do their utmost to include accurate, corroborated, transparent and up-to-date information, but make no warrants as to its accuracy or completeness. Consequently, the CRI- partners do not accept responsibility in any way for the information in this Country Sheet and accept no liability for damages of any kind arising from using the information in this Country Sheet. The information in this Country Sheet has been retrieved in collaboration with local partners. This Country Sheet contains links to websites that are created and maintained by other organizations. The CRI-project does not take any responsibility for the content of these websites. The CRI-partners are the partners who participate fully in the CRI- project: Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, Asociación Comissión Católica Española de Migración, Caritas International Belgium, Consiglio Italiano Per I Rifugiati, Coordination et Initiatives pour les Réfugiés et Étrangers and Dansk Flygtningehjælp. Further information can be obtained at [email protected] The Country Sheet Albania is a product of the CRI project. CRI-country sheets are prepared mainly on the basis of publicly available information, completed with data gathered by local partners in the specific countries, and will be updated periodically. Our local partners in Albania are: (cid:131) Albanian Centre for Population and Development (ACPD): a national NGO active in promoting equal chances for vulnerable groups and women, providing empowerment training and awareness rising activities, especially in the field of reproductive health and rights (cid:131) Albanian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR): a national NGO active in the promotion of human rights, providing information and training on human rights conditions and abuse 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS page 1. Access to territory (from country of asylum to return area) 5 1.1 Documentation 5 1.1.1 Travel documents needed for returnees 6 1.1.2 Documents needed in the country of return 6 1.1.3 How to obtain necessary documents 7 1.1.4 Price of necessary documents 7 1.2 Travel to country of origin 9 1.2.1 By air 9 1.2.2 By land 10 1.2.3 By sea 11 1.3 Entry procedure 11 1.3.1 By air 12 1.3.2 By land 12 1.3.3 By sea 12 1.4 Impacts of former acts and statuses upon entry 12 1.4.1 Impacts of former refugee or subsidiary protection status 12 1.4.2 Impacts of former unsuccessful asylum claim 13 1.4.3 Impacts of former illegal exit from country of origin 13 1.4.4 Impacts of crime committed outside the country of origin 13 1.5 Customs regulation 14 1.6 Access to return area 14 1.6.1 Limitations on internal travel 15 1.6.1.1 Administrative restrictions 15 1.6.1.2 Practical obstacles 15 1.6.2 Territories impossible or dangerous to approach 16 1.6.3 Means of internal travel 16 2. Physical security (in return area) 20 2.1 On-going armed conflicts 20 2.2 Regions with high security risk 20 2.3 Crime 21 2.3.1 Regions with an extremely high level of crime 23 2.3.2 Risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking 23 2.3.3 Risk of becoming a victim of forced prostitution 25 2.3.4 Effectiveness of protection 26 2.3.4.1 Police forces 27 2.3.4.2 Judiciary 29 3. Social security and reintegration 31 3.1 Regions with no reintegration and return opportunities 31 3.2 Housing, accommodation 32 3.2.1 Property restitution and/or compensation 34 3.2.2 Housing programmes by return areas 35 3.2.3 Opportunities of building a house 35 3.2.3.1 Conditions of obtaining land property 35 3.2.3.2 Relevant approximate prices 37 3.2.3.3 Available credits, subsidies and other forms of help 38 3.2.4 Opportunities of buying real estate 38 3.2.4.1 Legal conditions 39 3.2.4.2 Eventual obstacles for certain groups 39 3.2.4.3 Relevant approximate prices 39 3.2.4.4 Available credits and subsidies 41 3.2.5 Opportunities of renting a house or apartment 41 3 3.2.5.1 Relevant approximate prices 41 3.2.5.2 Available subsidies 42 3.2.6 Other middle-term accommodation possibilities 42 3.2.7 Temporary shelters 43 3.3 Livelihood – basic “survival” 43 3.3.1 Employment 45 3.3.1.1 Unemployment 48 3.3.1.2 Labour market programmes 49 3.3.1.3 Labour conditions 50 3.3.1.4 Accessibility of short-term / occasional jobs 52 3.3.1.5 Lack (high demand) in specific professions 52 3.3.1.6 Practical and contact information 52 3.3.2 Contact information relevant to the issue of recognition of 53 degrees 3.3.3 Education and retraining programmes 53 3.3.3.1 By government 57 3.3.3.2 By private firms 58 3.3.3.3 By international organisations or NGOs 59 3.3.4 Starting a new business and legal conditions 60 3.3.4.1 Credits and subsidies and access to them 63 3.3.5 Social security 64 3.3.5.1 Unemployment benefit and access to it 65 3.3.5.2 Sickness benefits and access to them 65 3.3.5.3 Family allowances and access to them 66 3.3.5.4 Other benefits in the social welfare system 67 3.3.5.5 Special benefits for returnees 68 3.3.6 Charity organisations with a general scope 68 3.3.7 Useful data to calculate the cost of living 69 3.4 Health 70 3.4.1 General health situation by regions 71 3.4.2 Drinking water and sanitation by regions; heating systems 72 3.4.3 Health care system 73 3.4.3.1 Health care infrastructure by regions 75 3.4.3.2 Eligibility criteria and access to health care services 77 3.4.3.3 Costs of healthcare 77 3.4.3.4 Discrimination in health care system 77 3.4.3.5 Services of non-state agents in health care 78 3.4.3.6 Diseases which cannot be effectively treated in the country 78 3.4.3.7 Supply with standard medicines 79 Annex I: Contact information 80 Annex II: Abbreviations 81 4 CHAPTER I 1. Access to territory (from country of asylum to return area) In March 2005, Albania signed the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania on the readmission of persons residing without permission (illegal residents), through which an EU Member State can ask Albania to readmit any of its nationals.1 The purpose of the agreement is to establish rapid and effective procedures for the identification and return of persons residing without authorization on the territories one of the Member States. Since 1 January 2008, Albanian citizens enjoy the benefits of a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union. This agreement provides simplified procedures for issuing visas, including a visa fee waiver for a broad range of categories of citizens including students, sportsmen and sportswomen, cultural workers, journalists, people visiting family members living in the EU, people in need of medical treatment, businessmen etc. Up to 50% of Albanian citizens can currently be exempt from the visa fee. People who pay for visas are charged the special reduced rate of EUR 35 instead of EUR 60. The EU initiated further steps towards the liberalisation of its visa regulations when on 28 January 2008 the General Affairs and External Relations Council asked the Commission to present a detailed roadmap. The roadmap should set clear and transparent conditions for countries in the region to get further visa alleviations. In March 2008, the dialogue on visa liberalisation with Albania was launched, and in June 2008 the Roadmap document was officially installed.2 1.1 Documentation Based on the article 100 of the Constitution, and article 83 of Law No. 8492, 27.5.2000 “For foreigners”, foreign citizens who enter or leave the territory of the Republic of Albania, are obliged to pass the border only through the Border Pass and Control Points (BPCP).3 All other passing of the state border is considered as illegal, except for the cases foreseen in bilateral or multilateral agreements (concerning defined border incidents).4 1 European Council. EC Decision 2005/371/EC, OJ L 124, 17.05.2005, http://EURlex.EURopa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&type_doc=De cision&an_doc=2005&nu_doc=371&lg=en, last accessed May 2007 2 Press Release of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Albania, June 3, 2008, http://www.delalb.ec.EURopa.eu/en/press_releases/roadmap_on_visa_free_travel_opens_eu_door s_to_albania, last accessed October 2008 3 More information is available at the official homepage of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affaires: http://www.mfa.gov.al/, last accessed October 2008 4 Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 439, 4.8.2000, “On the Entrance, Stay and Treatment of Foreigners In the Republic Of Albania” 5 1.1.1 Travel documents needed for returnees To enter Albania, an international recognized passport is necessary. Every Albanian citizen older than 16 years has the right to obtain a passport or, if out of country, at all Albanian diplomatic and/or consular offices around the world. For citizens younger than 16 years, Albanian authorities provide passports which are valid for a five-year period, while all other passports have a validity period up to ten years.5 The regular passport is the main document requested for a returnee. When taking the written declaration to the border control, the returnee should also declare the financial means, and the address of the place where he/she will stay in the Republic of Albania. The returnee should also declare the state where he/she coming from, the activity in the country of origin and other documents that certify his/her stay in the country of origin. All the acts should be up to date (produced and issued in the last three months, from the date of their submission at the local police commissariat). 1.1.2 Documents needed in the country of return Documents required by the police (border or local police) are the following documents: • the request for entry permission: purpose of the return and residence in the Republic of Albania; • passport and a notarized photocopy of the pages of the passport that holds data of concern (the page containing the photo and the generalities of the holder, the page that contains the Albanian visa, as well as the page containing the dated entry stamp). The photocopy is kept in the file; • declaration of return, stamped by the country of return; • good behaviour letter by the police authorities for the last six months; • proof of address; • family certificate if the person is married; • financial documents, bank guarantees, savings records showing that the returnee has already an activity in the country of origin6; The Ministry of Interior collaborates on the issue of returnees to Albania with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the State Information Service, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. This collaboration is regulated in joint acts, issued for the application of the law, and introduces concrete measures for the returnee’s engagement into Albanian society.7 5 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania (MFA). Directive no. 7677, date 03.12.2002 6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania (MFA). Directive no. 7677, date 03.12.2002 7 Republic of Albania. The Administrative Code of Albania, Law Nr 8485,12-05-1999, Official Bulletin, Nr 19, p. 578 6 The foreign citizens who enter in the territory of the Republic of Albania must present to the border police international recognized travel documents.8 1.1.3 How to obtain necessary documents A returnee can apply for a regular passport at the Police commissariats, allocated at his/her place of settlement. The application forms and instruction are free of charge, but the passport fee is 5.000 ALL9, payable to any police commissariat when applying. All Albanian citizens residing abroad can submit the necessary documents at the Albanian Consulates in form of a written request, a birth certificate and 3 pass photos (4 x 5 cm). Further information provides the consulate offices of the Albanian embassies.10 1.1.4 Price of necessary documents All Albanian citizens living abroad may apply for a 10 year Albanian Passport providing the following original documents: • one Albanian birth Certificate (issued within the last 3 months) • five photographs (50x40 mm, face must cover white background for 70%) • a personal request addressed to the Embassy with the own personal details; actual residence, profession, family status, contact telephone number • the passport fee (The fee depends on the respective consulate. The Albanian Consulate in Berlin/Germany calculate a fee of EUR 80 + EUR 50 shipping costs = EUR 13011) An Albanian citizen under 16 years of age who has never married is regarded as a child. A parent or another person who carries responsibility for the child must lodge a passport application for a child. A child cannot be included in an adult's passport. Each child, including a newborn infant, must be issued its own passport. The validity of a child’s passports (up to 16 of age) is normally valid for 5 years. For such a procedure the following documents are required: • the child's full original Albanian birth certificate. Documents other than the original are not acceptable. • a family certificate • five Passport Photos (50x40 mm, face must cover white background for 70%) 8 Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 439, 4.8.2000, “On the Entrance, Stay and Treatment of Foreigners In the Republic Of Albania” 9 ALL= Albanian LEK. 100 ALL is approximately USD 1 or 0.8 EUR (exchange rate, November 2008) 10 Most Albanian embassies have no own websites. An exception is the Albanian embassy in Berlin/Germany. Its website provides practical information of the consulate: http://www.botschaft- albanien.de/sherbimi_konsullor_legalizime.htm, last accessed October 2008 11 Albanian Embassy, Berlin/Germany, Veprime Me Pasaportat, http://www.botschaft- albanien.de/veprime_me_pasaporta.htm, last accessed October 2008 7 • a written consent of all the persons who carry responsibility for the child is needed. In most cases these are the child's natural parents. • the passport fee Table: Diplomatic Missions of Albania in EU-countries12 Austria FRANCE NETHERLANDS Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Albania Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Austria in France Albania in the Prinz Eugen Str. 18/1/5, A-1040 57, Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris Netherlands Wien Tel.: +33 147233100, Fax: +33 Anna Paulownastraat 109 B, 2518 Tel.: +43 13288656, Fax : +43 147235985 BD The Hague 13288658 Email: Tel.: +31704272101, Email: [email protected] +31703632021 [email protected] Fax: +31704272083 Email: [email protected] BELGIUM GERMANY POLAND 30, Rue Tenbosch, 1000 Bruxelles Embassy of the Republic of Albania Embassy of the Republic of Tel.: +3226403544, +3226401422, in Germany Albania in Poland Fax: +3226403177, 03126402858 Friedrichstr. 231, D-10 969 Berlin Ul. Altowa 1, 02-386 Warszawa Email: Tel.: +49302593040, Fax: Tel.: +48228241427, Fax: [email protected] +493025931890 +48228241426 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] BULGARIA GREECE ROMANIA Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Albania Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Bulgaria in Greece Albania in Romania 10 Krakra Str. 1504 Sofia 87, Vekiareli GR. 15237 Filothei, Str.Duiliu Zamfirescu no.7, Tel.: +35929433857, Fax: Athens Sector1 , Bucuresti +35929433069 Tel.: +302106876200, Fax: Tel.: +4012118743; Fax: E-mail: +302106876223 +40212108039 [email protected] E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] CZECH REPUBLIC HUNGARY UNITED KINGDOM Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Albania Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Czech in Hungary Albania in United Republic Gabor Aron u. 55, Budapest 1026 Kingdom Pod Kstansky 22, 16000 Praha 6 Tel.: +36 13268905, +36 1326 8906, 2nd floor , 24 Buckingham Gate Tel.: +42 0233370594, Fax: +42 +36 13266336 London SWIE 6LB, UK 0233377232 Fax: +3613268904 Tel.: +44 2078288897 Fax: + 44 E-mail: E-mail: 2078288869 [email protected] [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] DENMARK ITALY SPAIN Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Albania Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Denmark in Italy Albania in Spain NY Ostergade 7, 5th, 1101 Via Asmara, 5-00199 Roma C/Maria de Molina 64-5 B, 28006 Kobenhaven K. Tel.: +390686224120, Fax: + 39 Madrid Tel.: +45 33917070, +45 0686216005 Tel.:+34915612118, 33917979, Email: [email protected] +34915616985 Fax: +45 33917969 Consulate Bari: Fax: +34915613775, Cel.: 12 Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.mfa.gov.al/web/DIPLOMATIC_REPRESENTATIV_15_2.php, last accessed October 2008 8 Email: General Consulate in Bari +34617400594 [email protected] Corso Vittorio Emanuele 171, 70122 Bari Tel.Tel.+39 080 5727647, +39 080 5289728 Fax.+39 080 5283335 cel: +39 329 667 2460 Email: [email protected] 1.2 Travel to country of origin Albania is reachable by air, by sea and by land. 1.2.1 By air The only international airport of Albania is the “Mother Theresa International Airport” (http://www.tirana-airport.com.al/), located 25 km northwest of Tirana. Transportation between Tirana and the airport is provided by a shuttle bus-service, the Tirana Rinas Express, running between Skanderbeg Square and Mother Theresa Airport (single fare: 250 ALL/October 2008). Taxi service to and from the city cost about 2.000 ALL (about EUR 17).13 Approximate prices of airline-tickets to Albania depend on the airline, departure airport and the season. Prices are starting from EUR 120 for flights from Greece, Italy and Austria and at about EUR 250 for more northern European countries. There are only few airlines flying directly to Albania. Most flights are via Vienna, Frankfurt, Budapest, Rome or Milan. Luggage limits when travelling by air are specified by the respective agencies and vary from 20 to 25 kilograms. Table: Airlines operating Tirana International Airport14 Airline Website Contact 1 Adria Airways www.adria-airwyas.com Tel: 00 355 422 272 666 2 Albanian Airlines www.albanianairlines.com Tel: 00 355 422 230 857 3 Aegean Airlines www.aegeanair.gr Tel: 00 355 422 274 666 4 Alitalia www.alitalia.com Tel: 00 355 422 230 023 5 Austrian Airlines www.aua.com Tel: 00 355 422 235 029 6 Belleair www.belleair.it Tel: 00 355 422 240 194 13 Information according to the official airport-site. See additional Information with Taxi fares to different cities in EUR: http://www.tirana- airport.com/files/downloads/pdf/TAXI%20OPERATING%20COSTS.pdf, last accessed November 2008 14 For more information see http://www.tirana-airport.com.al/, last accessed November 2008. 9 7 British Airways www.britishairways.com Tel: 00 421 2 5710 2020 8 Bulgarian Airlines www.air.bg Tel: 00 355 422 230 410 9 JAT Airways www.jat.com Tel: 00 355 422 251 033 10 Lufthansa www.lufthansa.com Tel: 00 355 422 258 010 11 Malev Hungarian Airlines www.malev.hu Tel: 00 355 422 228 960 12 Turkish Airlines www.turkishairlines.com Tel: 00 355 422 234 902 1.2.2 By land Albania has borders with Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo and Greece. From Greece several bus lines maintain daily services to Albania. Tickets cost about EUR 35 to 40, travel time is expected to be from 10 – 12 hours and there are no luggage limitations.15 The border crossings to Albania: From Montenegro Hani I Hotit, leading to the Northern City of Shkodra and Lake Shkodra. Murriqan-Sukobina, which links Shkodra with Ulcinj in Montenegro. Recently opened is Vermoshi, which links the region of Kelmendi in Albania with Plava and Gucia (Gusinje) in Montenegro. From Macedonia Qafe Thana pass, leading to Pogradec, Librazhd and Elbasan. Tushemisht, at the Southeastern end of Lake Ohrid, leading to Pogradec. Bllata, leading to Peshkopi or Bulqiza and Burrel. Gorica, leading to the northern shores of Lake Prespa. From Kosovo Morina pass, which links Kukes, Albania, with Pristina, Kosovo. From Greece Through Kapshtica, leading to Korca. Kakavija, leading to Gjirokastra. Qafe Boti Konispol, leading to Filat. Tre Urat, connecting Permet with Konica.16 There are regular bus services between the following cities: Tirana - Tetova, Macedonia, through Qafe Thana Tirana - Prishtina and other towns in Kosovo through Morina Korca - Thessalonica, Greece, through Kapshtica Tirana - Athens through Kakavija Tirana - Sofia, Bulgaria, and Istanbul from Qafe Thana 15 More information on local transport can be found at http://www.albanianyellowpages.com/infopages.html, last accessed November 2008 16 Albanian Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. Available at: http://www.albaniantourism.com/,last accessed November 2008. 10