The Kosovo-Albania borders are being merged. At the joint meeting of the two governments, Kosovo and Albania, which is being held today in Elbasan, Interior Minister Bledi Çuçi explained the three reached agreements. The three agreements aim to facilitate the movement of citizens on both sides of the border.

“I want to start with the latter, which has to do with residence permits. Here we have made a very important leap to facilitate permits, to live on both sides of the Albanian border. Enabling every citizen in both countries to fill out a form and declare an appropriate address and immediately without any additional procedure he gets the 5-year leave and will immediately be entitled to permanent leave, without having to make another application . This permit is unified with the work permit. Without any document only this residence permit every citizen has the right to work on both sides of the border. I believe this is a very big relief and will facilitate human capital.

The second agreement concerns the opening or transfer to another status of the border between Shishtavec and Krushevo, making it possible for this point to be used not only by locals, but also by others. This creates another artery of movement. I believe the benefit will be direct.

The third agreement is the agreement that will enable the special facility or permits that the inhabitants of the border areas of the two countries will receive to move freely not only in the border areas. Both citizens of both sides will benefit from the same services in Kosovo and Albania. There are about 300 thousand inhabitants to benefit from this agreement. “They can attend school freely depending on the situation of the institutions, they can go to work without the need for any permit,” said the minister.

Çuçi further added that they are working to facilitate traffic at border crossings before the summer season. He said that they are installing a system of cameras, in order not to stop the vehicles, thus facilitating the circulation of vehicles. However, even for the holiday of November 28, during the weekend there will be no checks on both sides of the border.

“We have brought a package that has created a different environment, without the need for additional bureaucracy. It is not part of the agreement, but at the request of the two prime ministers, we have taken measures and will not wait for the summer season to facilitate circulation. We will set up a camera system at the border and traffic will be non-stop. Everything will be automatic without having to stop at the border at all. We have also made the work plan and it will be much sooner than the start of the season, “said Çuçi.

/Klara Ruci/