MORE countries in southeastern Europe are facing major emigration. Among them is Albania, which roughly the same number of people leave each year as Croatia. But while in our country young people began leaving in greater numbers upon joining the European Union, Tirana has only just started accession negotiations with Brussels, so its biggest wave of migration is probably yet to come.

The center of Tirana is a huge construction site – the Albanian capital is taking on the appearance of a modern Western metropolis. But lagging behind the West, residents tell us, is best seen when looking into one’s wallet. Already low incomes, half those in Croatia, have been further burdened by inflation, as much as 5 percent higher than a year earlier, writes HRT.

“Prices have risen significantly. Milk, for example, is 80 percent more expensive. I think the biggest problem is that there is no end in sight,” says one citizen.

“It’s true, prices have risen in Albania. The economic situation is difficult, but people still buy gifts before the holidays,” says one female citizen.

“A training ground for crossing the Adriatic”

While walking through the city, residents still pass numerous bunkers – a reminder of the not so distant times when that country was completely closed off. As many as 175 thousand bunkers were built across Albania. One of them is a former atomic shelter of the Ministry of the Interior, converted into a museum.

“This room bears witness to the suffering of the Albanian people during the communist regime. Here is the wire representing the border that was closed at the time. Dogs like these were used to track people who tried to cross the border illegally. This original cloak used for training those dogs is also interesting. The bites you see on it are real,” shows Entela Aris, tour guide at the Bunk’art 2 museum.

“Our country in the last two decades, after the fall of communism, has become a training ground for crossing the Adriatic, from Durrës toward Italy,” said journalist and publicist Andi Bushati.

Last year 40 thousand people left Albania

For those who now want to leave the country, nothing stands in their way anymore. At the beginning of the 1990s, Albania had almost 3.3 million inhabitants, and today it has half a million fewer. In the past year alone, more than 40 thousand people left Albania. Thousands applied for asylum in one of the countries of the European Union, however only 225 lucky ones received it.

“There are no statistical data on how many young people have left, but it is a popular phenomenon. Young people will tell you one after another that they intend to leave, although they do not have a concrete plan,” says journalist and publicist Andi Bushati.

“A better life – that is the reason,” says one citizen.

“It is very difficult for young people here to find a job and get a good education. Not many opportunities are offered and the future is not bright,” comments one young man.

Attempt to leave for Great Britain

Among Albanian migrants, Great Britain has become an exceptionally popular destination. In 2020, about fifty of them illegally crossed the English Channel in small boats. This year, more than 13 thousand illegal Albanian immigrants arrived in England that way. Some also enter the country legally on a tourist visa and then stay to work illegally.

“Leaving for England is a consequence of sophisticated organized crime in Albania. Our country in the last two decades, after the fall of communism, has become a training ground for crossing the Adriatic, from Durrës toward Italy. Now Albanian criminals have moved into western Europe and strengthened in the area around the English Channel, which directs Albanians who want to leave the country,” says Bushati.

85 percent of migrants from Albania, who illegally crossed the English Channel by boat in the first 9 months of last year, applied for asylum in Great Britain. Only 50 of them have so far received a decision from the British authorities, and in no case was it positive. 

Source: index.hr