During his first official visit to Albania, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a set of decisive measures to combat illegal migration and transnational crime networks across the Western Balkans. This comes shortly after unveiling a broad reform package aimed at reducing both legal and illegal migration into the United Kingdom, reports RFE.
Key announcements include:
- Banning deported Albanian nationals from re-entering the UK.
- Enhancing cooperation on anti-money laundering efforts between Britain and Albania.
- Donating two devices to detect forged documents and identify individuals using false passports.
- Expanding a joint migration task force to now include North Macedonia and Montenegro, in addition to current partners Albania and Kosovo.
Starmer emphasized the importance of dismantling criminal networks that facilitate illegal crossings, especially given that Albanian nationals made up the largest group of small boat arrivals in 2022. Those numbers have dropped significantly since, partly due to a deportation agreement signed by the previous Conservative government.
On the topic of legal migration — which constitutes the majority of entries into the UK — Starmer warned on Monday that the net migration rate must be substantially reduced, cautioning that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers” if tighter controls are not implemented.
