Albanian citizens can now travel without visas to Europe's Schengen zone, a milestone that will be marked by some lucky students from the country with a trip to two European cities. To celebrate the visa-free regime, which took effect today, Albanian Interior Minister Lulzim Basha is leading a group of local high school students on a trip to Brussels, where they will meet with EU officials.
After Brussels the students and Basha will head to Rome, where they will meet Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and visit the Capitolini museum, where the EU's founding Treaty of Rome is on display. Present at the airport to send the travellers on their way was Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who thanked the EU officials and member countries that had supported Albania’s bid for visa liberalisation and described the moment as historic.
“This is a special historic moment for Albanians travelers of all generations,” Berisha told reporters gathered at the Mother Teresa International Airport. “It’s the first flight that opens the curtain to a Europe without walls, because the Schengen wall has fallen,” he added. Under the EU decision, Albanian citizens are now allowed to travel to a total of 28 nations that are either inside Europe’s borderless Schengen zone or aspire to join it.
In order to make the trip, Albanians must hold a biometric passport, proof of health insurance and necessary funds to cover the cost of travel and their visit. According to Albania’s Ministry of Interior, more than 1.2 million citizens had applied for the new biometric passports by November 5.
After Brussels the students and Basha will head to Rome, where they will meet Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and visit the Capitolini museum, where the EU's founding Treaty of Rome is on display. Present at the airport to send the travellers on their way was Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who thanked the EU officials and member countries that had supported Albania’s bid for visa liberalisation and described the moment as historic.
“This is a special historic moment for Albanians travelers of all generations,” Berisha told reporters gathered at the Mother Teresa International Airport. “It’s the first flight that opens the curtain to a Europe without walls, because the Schengen wall has fallen,” he added. Under the EU decision, Albanian citizens are now allowed to travel to a total of 28 nations that are either inside Europe’s borderless Schengen zone or aspire to join it.
In order to make the trip, Albanians must hold a biometric passport, proof of health insurance and necessary funds to cover the cost of travel and their visit. According to Albania’s Ministry of Interior, more than 1.2 million citizens had applied for the new biometric passports by November 5.
News source: Balkan Insight link: article
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