Weinig voordelen EU- visumovereenkomst met Albanië (en)
The EU has signed visa facilitation agreements with all Western Balkans countries under which Albanians and other citizens of the region will continue to benefit from a reduced visa handling fee of €35 instead of €60. One may expect that an Albanian citizen should be happy because now a Schengen visa would not cost one third but only one sixth of an average monthly salary. I am really not thrilled by such an "advantage". Moreover, even if today's list of requirements to get a Schengen visa is shorter than before, it still varies from one embassy to the other. Also, in order to be granted a multi-entry Schengen visa, one needs to provide a bank certificate of financial resources available. So, a third year student for instance, who comes from an average family with €350 or less monthly income, has to show evidence of financial resources in order to get a multiple-entry Schengen visa that would allow him/her to share and learn new experiences in events that could be fully funded by the organisers. Finally, the rigid visa regime so far has not prevented organised crime. On the contrary, it has provided this "business" with an additional market - illegal trafficking and smuggling. It has also increased corruption. Gjergji VURMO, Programme Director at the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), Tirana.