The committee adopted the report by Anna KARAMANOU (PES, GR) on the action plan for Albania and the neighbouring region. The main purpose of the plan was to stop emigration to the countries of the European Union. However, the committee deplored the lack of balance in the plan, saying it consisted chiefly of measures aimed at control and repression which failed to distinguish between asylum applicants, immigrants for social and economic reasons and people in transit. The report argued that the Council should put in place an integrated strategy for movements of migrants from or through Albania. In any talks between Albania and the Union on strengthening democracy in Albania or its ties with the EU, Italy needed to be more closely involved since - like Greece - it had particular concerns about immigration from Albania because of its geographical proximity. The report said that clandestine immigration should not be regarded as a crime by the Member States because of the political and economic reasons which caused refugees to leave their home countries. Lastly, the committee was unhappy that the plan made no provision for protecting and combating discrimination against refugees on Albanian soil.
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