8 October 2020 – IOM Albania and Repatriation and Departure Service of the Netherlands in cooperation with Ministry of Interior launched today an awareness raising campaign aiming to prevent unsafe migration from Albania to European Union Member States.  Representatives of line ministries (Finance and Economy, Education, Sports and Youth, Health and Social Protection) as well as local authorities, CSOs and youth organizations joined the launch ceremony of the awareness raising campaign “Choose opportunities, not irregular migration!”

IOM Albania and line ministries, partner to this initiative will undertake a series of meetings, workshops and info sessions with youth, civil society representatives, teachers and students. Employment Services, Migration Counters and Social Protection services shall play a crucial role in dissemination information about employment opportunities and employment incentive programmes, existing opportunities in Albania for skills and capacity development: scholarships, employment and vocational training.

Furthermore, during the campaign activities, participants will be informed about the rules and regulations of the free movement under the Visa Liberalization Agreement in the Schengen area. They will be informed about consequences of irregular migration, including entry ban, smuggling, exploitation, trafficking and potential involvement in criminal activities. Activities, as well as this campaign information tools, including video and leaflet, highlight that unfound asylum requests are not a mean for regular migration, and citizens will be encouraged to seek information about requirements for regular migration opportunities.

The campaign will also respond to the priorities of the Albanian Government set in the National Strategy for Migration Governance 2019-2022 for ensuring an effective response to migration management from Albania towards EU Member States, through better control of borders and respect of the visa liberalization regime between Albania and the European Union (Schengen zone), ensuring full respect of migrants rights.

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For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Alketa Gaxha

Project Coordinator

International Organization for Migration

Rr. Brigada e VIII, P. LID, Kati III, Ap. 303

Tirana, Albania

Email: agaxha@iom.int

Mobile: ++ 355 692037049