TIRANA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Commission on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights in the Albanian Parliament approved the agreement between Albania and the European Union (EU) on border management by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Tuesday.
According to the press release, the draft law "On the ratification of the status agreement between Albania and the European Union (EU) on the actions undertaken by Frontex in Albania" was presented in front of the Commission by Deputy Interior Minister Rovena Voda.
According to Voda, the draft law aims to strengthen the cooperation in the operational areas between Albania, the Border and Migration Department and Frontex.
"The agreement aims to strengthen Albania's cooperation with the EU countries in the area of border management, illegal migration and cross-border crime," said Voda.
Later on Tuesday, the EU delegation in Albania welcomed the future entry into force of the agreement between the EU and Albania on Frontex.
"The future entry into force of the agreement between the EU and Albania on Frontex, will contribute to enhancing security and ensuring a better management of irregular migration in Albania and in the whole region," tweeted the EU delegation in the social media Twitter.
Moreover, the EU delegation wrote that negotiations of such agreements have been concluded with other Western Balkans partners as well.
"The management of Albanian borders will remain the competence of Albanian authorities. The Agency will only provide assistance and support to national competent authorities, in a spirit of mutual cooperation," reads the status.
The EU delegation to Albania explains that there is no link between the entry into force of the agreement and the visa suspension mechanism.
