Following statements by the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who mentioned "around 700 Albanian families" with rejected asylum claims who are still living in shelters funded by the British state, Prime Minister Edi Rama's reaction has come.
Mahmood stated the day before that “the removal of these families is not being implemented,” despite the excellent cooperation between the two countries on returns. According to her, Albania is a gold standard partner and a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, so the return process should resume immediately.
Rama reacted harshly, calling the statement “disappointing” and criticizing the fact that a representative of the Labor government is using rhetoric similar to that of the far right. He said that singling out Albanians is “a demagogic, inappropriate and unnecessary exercise.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that, thanks to the agreement and joint operations since the end of 2022, irregular arrivals of Albanians in Britain have been reduced to almost zero, showing that the cooperation between Tirana and London has worked.
He also criticized the new visa and mobility restrictions that Britain has imposed, calling them "relics of the Braverman era," which he said are damaging not only relations but also the British economy itself.
Rama underlined that Albanians are net contributors to the UK economy, and that the benefits they receive from the British state are much lower compared to other immigrant communities. “Continuing their isolation is not politics – it is dangerous demagogy,” he said.
