On 15 September, the European Union and Albania signed a new agreement on operational cooperation in border management with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement was signed by representatives of the Council, the Commission, and the Albanian government.

The agreement is a deliverable of the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans Strengthened operational cooperation between Western Balkan partners and Frontex will contribute to addressing irregular migration and cross border crime and further enhance security at the EU’s external borders. The new agreement will update the previous status agreement from 2019 by also allowing the deployment of Frontex Standing Corps officers at the borders between Albania and neighbouring Western Balkan partners. After the signature, the agreement may be applied provisionally, upon agreement of the Albanian Parliament. The final conclusion of the agreement is subject to the consent of the European Parliament and a Council decision as well as any remaining ratification steps on the side of Albania.

The signature took place in the margins of the Berlin Process meeting of Interior Ministers, hosted yesterday in Tirana by Albanian Interior Minister Taulant Balla. There, Ministers from Western Balkans partners, a number of EU Ministers, representatives of EU Agencies, the United Kingdom, and international organisations exchanged on integrated border management, cooperation to fight organised crime and cybersecurity.