Lorenzo Quadri of Lega dei Ticinesi in Switzerland: to suspend visa-free movement for Albanians

 Lorenzo Quadri speaking

  After the Netherlands, even some Swiss politicians are proposing the suspending of visa-free travel for Albanians in the Schengen Zone after the demand the Netherlands submitted to the European Commission. The councilor of Ticino, the lawyer Lorenzo Quadri has requested interpellation with the Federal Council, and in the parliamentary act is cited the Dutch Movement's moves to return visas regime for Albanians to the Schengen area and the subsequent official demand directed to the EC.

"The visa requirement for Albanians - wrote Quadri - was removed in 2010. Since then, they can move freely," - he continues. And further he underlines that the Dutch Parliament has motivated his request with the growing concern of the mafia-type crime, which comes from Albania."

It is underlined that in the Netherlands there are six times more Albanians than those officially declared and that according to Rotterdam police, the Albanian mafia is the most violent criminal organization in that city in recent years. Another problem raised is the illegal immigration of Albanian nationals to the Netherlands, especially the young men.

The European Commission also affects the Switzerland as our country has signed Schengen agreements, are the arguments given by the Quadri.

While the Dutch Parliament finally approved a motion that requires the government to block the opening of Albania's EU membership negotiations for 2019. According to the Dutch government, Albania has not achieved tangible results in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Stef Blok, said that the European Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Albania was premature.