Visa, border management, asylum and migration
The Parties shall cooperate in the areas of visa, border control, asylum and migration and shall set up a framework for cooperation, including at a regional level, in these fields, taking into account and making full use of other existing initiatives in this area as appropriate.
Cooperation in the matters referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on mutual consultations and close coordination between the Parties and shall include technical and administrative assistance for:
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the exchange of information on legislation and practices,
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the drafting of legislation,
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enhancing the efficiency of the institutions,
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the training of staff,
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the security of travel documents and detection of false documents,
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border management.
Cooperation shall focus in particular:
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in the field of asylum on the implementation of national legislation to meet the standards of the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 New York Protocol, thereby to ensure that the principle of non-refoulement is respected as well as other rights of asylum seekers and refugees,
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in the field of legal migration, on admission rules and rights and status of the person admitted. In relation to migration, the Parties agree to the fair treatment of nationals of other countries who reside legally on their territories and to promote an integration policy aiming at making their rights and obligations comparable to those of their citizens.
Prevention and control of illegal immigration, and readmission
1. The Parties shall cooperate in order to prevent and control illegal immigration. To this end, the Parties agree that, upon request and without further formalities, Albania and the Member States:
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shall readmit any of their nationals illegally present on their territories,
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shall readmit nationals of third countries and stateless persons illegally present on their territories and having entered the territory of Albania via or from a Member State, or having entered the territory of a Member State via or from Albania.
2. The Member States of the European Union and Albania shall provide their nationals with appropriate identity documents and shall extend to them the administrative facilities necessary for such purposes.
3. Specific procedures for the purpose of readmission of nationals and third country nationals and stateless persons are laid down in the Agreement between the European Community and Albania on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation, signed on 14 April 2005.
4. Albania agrees to conclude Readmission Agreements with the Stabilisation and Association process countries and undertakes to take any necessary measures to ensure the flexible and rapid implementation of all Readmission Agreements referred to in this article.
5. The Stabilisation and Association Council shall establish other joint efforts that can be made to prevent and control illegal immigration, including trafficking and illegal migration networks.
