RETURN AND READMISSION TO ALBANIA THE EXPERIENCE OF SELECTED EU MEMBER STATES Combating Irregular Migration in Albania and the wider region Targeted support to capacity building within the framework of readmission support to Albania RETURN AND READMISSION TO ALBANIA THE EXPERIENCE OF SELECTED EU MEMBER STATES August 2006 This research provides an understanding of the current bilateral return and readmission practices from 4 EU member states to Albania, notably Belgium, Greece, Italy and the UK, including a general introduction chapter on EU policy with a special focus on readmission. The research also looks at the implications of implementation of the EC/Albania Readmission Agreement for Albania, with regard to the return of Albanian and third country nationals. The purpose of the study is to provide practitioners and national experts with an overview of current practices compared to existing international standards in order to guide the decision-making process and to make this practical experience available for the smooth implementation of the EC/Albania readmission agreement as well as other readmission agreements in the future. Editor: Caroline Mackenzie Opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IOM. IOM does not take any responsibilities for any use that may be made of the information contained therein nor for inaccuracies caused through translation. Furthermore, the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. In addition, the Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation of the Hellenic Republic does not take any responsibilities for the content of the report or for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. This publication was funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization of the Hellenic Republic. Publisher: International Organization for Migration, Tirana Rruga Brigada e Tete Tirana Albania Tel: +355 4 257 836/7 Fax: +355 4 257 835 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.iomtirana.org.al ISBN 978 92 9068 274 5 © 2006, International Organization for Migration All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables .....................................................................................................................7 List of Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................8 Foreword ...........................................................................................................................9 I. Perspectives on the EC/Albanian Readmission Agreement .........................11 Lynellyn D. Long, with Sanja Celebic I.1. The EC Perspective on the Albanian Readmission Agreement ................................11 I.2. Definitions of Readmission and Return .....................................................................12 I.2.1. Security versus economic interests ................................................................................ 14 I.2.2. Developing an EC-wide security regime ..................................................................14 I.2.3. Growing security concerns and the readmission agreement negotiations ....................15 I.2.4. The need for return mechanisms ............................................................................17 I.2.5. Common border management ................................................................................18 I.2.6. Economic migrants ................................................................................................20 I.2.7. Continuing tensions on migration matters ................................................................21 I.3. Why Albania? A Special Case ...................................................................................23 I.4. EC Assistance for Readmission and Reform ............................................................26 I.5. Reflections on Implementation: Findings and Recommendations ............................29 I.5.1. Findings ...............................................................................................................29 I.5.2. Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 31 References ......................................................................................................................33 Interviews ........................................................................................................................38 Endnotes .........................................................................................................................38 II. The Readmission Agreement between Belgium and Albania: Policy and Practices ..................................................................................................41 Michele Rosa-Clot and Brigitte Smeyers II.1. Research Purpose, Methodology and Implementation ............................................41 II.2. Historical and legal basis ..........................................................................................41 II.2.1. Patterns of Albanian immigration in Belgium ...........................................................41 II.2.2. The bilateral readmission agreement between Belgium and Albania (BRABA) ...........42 II.2.3. Legal framework ...................................................................................................43 II.3. Profile of Albanian Immigration in Belgium ...............................................................46 II.3.1 Profi le of immigration from Albania to Belgium .........................................................46 II.3.2 Distribution in Belgium ...........................................................................................48 II.4. Practices of return ....................................................................................................49 II.4.1. Refoulement ........................................................................................................49 II.4.2. Removal ..............................................................................................................49 II.4.3. Return modalities .................................................................................................49 II.4.4. Forced returns......................................................................................................50 Operational procedures for forced returns ........................................................................50 Costs and effectiveness of forced returns ........................................................................51 Vulnerable groups .........................................................................................................53 II.4.5. Voluntary returns ..................................................................................................53 Operational procedures ..................................................................................................54 4 Costs and effectiveness of forced returns ........................................................................55 II.4.6. Impact on Belgian public opinion ............................................................................56 II.5. Gaps and Recommendations ...................................................................................57 II.5.1. Organizational ......................................................................................................57 Need for a centralized database......................................................................................57 Communication and coordination ....................................................................................57 Disaggregate statistical analysis .................................................................................... 57 II.5.2. Human aspects ....................................................................................................57 II.5.3. Prevention ...........................................................................................................58 II.6. Conclusions ..............................................................................................................58 References ......................................................................................................................60 Interviews ........................................................................................................................62 Appendix II.1 Operational Procedures for Forced Returns..............................................63 Appendix II.2 List of Institutions and Private Organizations Contacted for this Research .....64 Endnotes .........................................................................................................................65