The overall objective of these projects was to set up a functioning and effective mechanism for asylum and refugee protection in Albania. This projects work along the lines of a three-stage process: pre-procedure (access), procedure (refugee status determination) and post-procedure (durable solutions).
In term of access to the asylum system, fair and efficient procedures for the border regime, consistent with International and European protection standards, are being developed and implemented.
Project Name
Migrant Service Centres (CARDS)
Location
Albania
Implementing Partner
IOM
Funding Programme
CARDS 2003
Responsible DG
EC DEL Tirana
Description
Migrant Service Centers were established providing information and migration related service in particular to improve management of labour migration towards Italy.
Project Name
“Combating irregular migration in Albania and the wider region; Targeted support to capacity building within the framework of readmission support to Albania” (2003/HLWG/055)
Location
Albania
Implementation period
December 2004 – June 2006
Implementing Partner
IOM
Budget/EC contribution
€ 882.345,45; EU grant: € 705.876,36
Funding Programme
HLWG – B7-667
Responsible DG
JLS
Description
Relevant Albanian authorities received information on the EU best practices related to management of apprehended illegal migrants, received training (including on foreign languages), were adviced regarding the standards to be respected for the establishement of a reception center for illegal migrants in Albania, for the handling of the latter and for their repatriation to their home countries.
Project Name
Implementation of the readmission agreement (CARDS)
Location
Albania
Budget/EC contribution
€ 2.000.000
Funding Programme
CARDS 2004
Responsible DG
ELARG
Project Name
Building a Mechanism to effectively and sustainable implement readmission agreements between Albania, the EC and third countries (2005/103499)
Location
Albania
Implementation period
December 2005 – April 2008
Implementing Partner
Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation of the Hellenic Republic; IOM
Budget/EC contribution
€ 1.818.460 / € 1.454.768
Funding Programme
AENEAS 2004
Responsible DG
EuropeAid
Description
The project supported Albania to identify and manage the return of third country returned illegal migrants and to help reintegration of returned Albanians.
Project Name
W.A.R.M. (2005/103559)
Location
Albania
Implementation period
January 2006 – December 2008
Implementing Partner
Comune di Roma
Budget/EC contribution
€ 1.519.207 / € 1.215.196
Funding Programme
AENEAS 2004
Responsible DG
EuropeAid
Description
Reintegration of Albanian returnees through their insertion on labour market and through micro-enterprises creation.
Project Name
ALBAMAR (2005/103632)
Location
Albania and Morocco
Implementation period
December 2005 – December 2008
Implementing Partner
COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale
Budget/EC contribution
€ 1.668.216 / € 1.334.572
Funding Programme
AENEAS 2004
Responsible DG
EuropeAid
Description
Definition and implementation of an integrated support to Moroccan and Albanian migrants forcedly or voluntarily repatriated from Italy that are highly exposed to the risks of illegal migration and criminal activities
Project Name
Former et créer un réseau institutionnel pour l’identification, l’accueil et l’intégration durable des personnes en retour
Location
Albania
Implementation period
January 2007 – December 2008
Implementing Partner
Associazione Centro Europa Per La Scuola Educazione E Societa-Ceses
Budget/EC contribution
€ 834.551 / € 652.443
Funding Programme
AENEAS 2005
Responsible DG
EuropeAid
Description
Soutenir les institutions albanaises dans le processus de création d’un système efficace de gestion des flux des personnes en retour visé à la mise en œuvre de l’accord de réadmission avec la CE et à l'élimination des causes de l'émigration illégal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project Name
Support to Migration Management Capacities (2003/72875 and 2005/115633)
Location
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Implementation period
November 2003 – January 2008
Implementing Partner
IOM
Budget/EC contribution
€ 870.000 / € 870.000 (2003/72875)
€ 1.200.000 / € 1.200.000(2005/115633)
Funding Programme
CARDS 2003 and 2005
Responsible DG
DEL Bosnia and Herzegovina
Description
These projects aim at ensuring that the Sector for Immigration and Asylum, established within the Ministry of Security have administrative and procedural capacity that will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to effectively manage population movements, and develop a migration policy for Bosnia and Herzegovina that will be coordinated by the Ministry of Security and regularly reviewed; to ensure that management structures necessary for the effective implementation of migration policies and legislation, in line with the EU standards and practices are developed; to strengthen the legislative basis for the management of migration processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina by developing new legislation and by-laws and consolidating existing legislation and procedures in line with EU standards and practices and other international norms; to establish a Migration Information System that will allow the Ministry of Security to collect and analyze information about non-citizens that will be used to develop migration policy, visa requirements and improve legislation and procedures.
Project Name
Support to Asylum Management Capacities (2003/072-091 and 2005/109048)
These projects have the following key objective: to establish a clearly identified and independent authority, as a competent “asylum unit” within the competent ministry, with responsibility for examining requests for refugee status and taking decisions on refugee status in the first instance.
Project Name
Strengthening the protection of asylum seekers (2005/103661)
Location
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Implementation period
January 2006 – December 2007
Implementing Partner
VASA PRAVA – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Budget/EC contribution
€ 856.932,56 / € 616.562,98
Funding Programme
AENEAS 2004
Responsible DG
EuropeAid
Description
Ensuring a maximum protection and access to justice for asylum seekers, recognized refugees and other categories of persons under international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and victims of human trafficking, ensuring the full access to their rights via the provision of free legal aid and information campaigns.
Project Name
Support to EU support for the implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy for Bosnia and Hezegovina (2006/120289)
Location
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Implementation period
May 2006 – April 2008
Implementing Partner
IOM
Budget/EC contribution
€ 1.018.016 / € 1.000.000
Funding Programme
CARDS
Responsible DG
DEL Bosnia and Herzegovina
Description
EU support to the Indirect Taxation Agency (ITA), State Border Service, Veterinary and phyto-sanitary and market inspectorates by providing training, study tours and workshops, revision of legislation, and setting up a joint analysis centre.
Croatia
Project Name
Protection of Asylum seekers in the Republic of Croatia and Regio (2005/103578)
Strengthening the protection in CRO and region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro) by developing asylum system consistent with international standards.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Project Name
Enhancement of the asylum management system (2003/01/08)
Location
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Implementation period
April 2006 – December 2006
Implementing Partner
Transtec (BE)
Budget/EC contribution
€ 160.000 / € 160.000
Funding Programme
CARDS 2003
Responsible DG
ELARG
Description
The programme provides short-term technical assistance in the field of asylum regarding the definition of operational procedures on asylum and the design of an IT platform for the relevant line ministries. The aim of the project is to enhance the asylum management system in the country.
Project Name
Construction of reception centre for asylum seekers (2002/01/14)
The project aims to construct a reception centre for asylum seekers. The centre will be located in the vicinity of Skopje and will have an administrative building for registration and administration of asylum seekers and several buildings for hosting asylum seekers. It will be able to host up to 150 persons, but the design includes possible future extension for up to 300 people.
Project Name
Development of immigration and asylum strategy, legislation and action plan (2002/01/14; 2003/01/08)
Location
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Implementation period
February 2004 – December 2005
Implementing Partner
Charles Kendall & Partners Ltd (UK); B&S Europe (BE)
The programme provided technical assistance and training to develop and implement the National Action Plan for Migration and Asylum. The TA team also provided amendments to primary and secondary legislation pertaining to the new Law on Asylum as well as assisted in the development of the new Law on the Movement and Residence of Foreigners. In the framework of the programme, a new project proposal has been launched that will look into the enhancement of the asylum management system in the country.
