Today, the Albanian Ministry of Interior and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), launched the first ever joint operation on the territory of a neighbouring non-EU country. The Frontex teams will support the Albanian border guards in performing checks at crossing points and along the green border with Greece. 50 officers with 16 patrol cars from 12 EU member states will be deployed as of tomorrow. The joint operation will also contribute to tackle cross-border crime and in particular migrants’ smuggling.

The operation was launched from Tirana in the presence of Edi Rama, Albanian Prime Minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Sandër Lleshaj, Albanian Interior Minister and Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

“With the first ever deployment of European Border and Coast Guard teams outside of the EU, we are opening an entirely new chapter in our cooperation on migration and border management with Albania and with the whole Western Balkan region. This is a real game changer and a truly historical step, bringing this region closer to the EU by working together in a coordinated and mutually supportive way on shared challenges such as better managing migration and protecting our common borders. For the EU, Albania is more than a neighbour it is part of the European family. Today’s launch marks another important step forward on Albania’s path toward the EU”, said Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Watch here the full speeches: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-172623…

Read here the press release: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/albania/62861

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