France-Albania Cooperation over migratory flows, security and accession.

French police officers will soon help the Albanian police to control border checkpoints. This collaboration is the result of an agreement signed on Friday by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ditmir Bùshati and the French Minister of Interior, Gerard Collomb in Paris. The former-Minister of Interior, Fatmir Xhafaj, who has been confirmed by the Prime Minister in the same postin the next government, was also part of the Albanian delegation. On this visit ministers focused on the situation created by increasing asylum applications in France, including unaccompanied minors. At the initiative of Albania, the parties agreed to implement an action plan to reinforce measures for reducing asylum applications by Albanian citizens within a quarterly time frame. One of the measures is the deployment in Albania of French police officers to conduct joint operations with albanian border police. French police officers deployments in the border checkpoints will aim to prevent the visa-free traveling rules and lower the number of asylum-seekers headed to France, a concern repeatedly expressed by the French authorities. “We are aware of the freedoms and duties associated with the free movement in the Schengen area and very determined not to tolerate abusive asylum requests”,- Minister Bushati said. For his part, Minister Collomb pointed out that France is ready to offer its support in this regard. “Albania is a safe country, and I want to welcome the ambitious action plan and the will of the Albanian government,” Collomb underlined. The two officials agreed to expand cooperation evenin othersectors, while the exchange of information between respective agencies at the shortest time possible remains a priority. Minister Bushati briefed Minister Collomb on the progress of key reforms for opening of EU accession negotiations, focusing on implementation of the vetting law and the impact that justice reform will have on security. Furthermore, Albania and France will further enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism within the framework of the Strategic Partnership signed this year between the two countries. At the conclusion of his visit, Minister Bushati met also with the European Affairs Minister, Nathalie Loiseau. Minister Loiseau said that justice reform holds the key to rule of law and will bring about a transformation in other areas as well. “France will continue to encourage and support the implementation of the reforms needed for Albania to progress toward rapprochement with the European Union," said Loiseau. Minister Bushati, for his part, stated that in the broader context of Albania’s relations with the EU, the time is ripe to continue with the next step in the European integration process. “We wish and hope to have France‘s support to make the most of the negotiation period and build momentum for the transformation that Albania needs,” Bushati said.