The new law on asylum adopted today brings Albania closer to international standards and EU legislation on the important issue of adequately managing refugees and migrants entering the Albanian territory. It ensures that persons seeking asylum have access to the asylum procedure regulates the conditions for processing their requests and offers additional guarantees for the treatment of vulnerable categories among asylum seekers – such as unaccompanied minors. It also reinforces the framework for the integration of refugees. The law also introduces an accelerated procedure to assess asylum requests in a swift manner when conditions are fulfilled.  

 The Albanian authorities have been closely working with the EU and UNHCR in the run-up to its adoption. The EU and UNHCR will keep engaging with the authorities to ensure that upcoming by-laws and actual implementation of the law will be in line with international and EU standards. This follow-up is also an essential part of the support that the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) will be providing to the Albanian authorities, in line with the Roadmap both sides have recently endorsed, and will facilitate the fulfilment of Albania’s commitments at UNHCR’s Global Refugee Forum.