Trends of immigration from Western Balkan countries: Albania, Kosovo and FYROM

• Author: Eva Teqja - Gentian Koci
• Position: 'Aleksander Moisiu' University, Durres
• Pages: 108-119

ISSN 2410-759X

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Tirana-Albania Vol. 2 No. 1

May, 2016

108

Trends of immigration from Western Balkan countries:

Albania, Kosovo and FYROM

Eva Teqja

“Aleksander Moisiu” University, Durres

Gentian Koci

“Aleksander Moisiu” University, Durres

Abstract

Recently we have seen a problematic increase in migration from WB countries, especially

from Albania, Kosovo and FYROM. Illegal migration is considered one of the main

concerns of a number of EU institutions. A new asylum policy should be based on deep

understanding of migration. This paper tries to contribute for it. The goal is to explore

the impact of European integration process on migration fluxes and identify policy

measures that could contribute to its management. In this paper the hypothesis is:

Slowdown of the European integration processes is followed by acceleration of migratory

fluxes. It will explore how the EU integration process is related to trends of emigration

and will analyze the framework of regional and European migration. Social and economic

factors will be analyzed also. Part of this paper will be evaluation of the impact of

emigration on demographic indicators of each country. These objectives will be achieved

by: Studying how integration processes through economic and social development of

these countries impact migratory fluxes; studying how political crises of studied countries

have impacted the slowdown of integration processes; in which periods migratory fluxes

slowdown. Comparing special indicators like unemployment, organized crime, illegal

trafficking and level of democracy among countries of the region; what are the indicators

that get priority regarding migratory processes? Finding: How fatigue from integration

process and skepticism has impacted migration? This paper will be based on many

information resources; statistical publication of Western Balkan countries, reports of

international institutions like EU, World Bank, IMF, OSCE etc.

Keywords: Immigration, Western Balkans, Albania, Kosovo, FYROM.

Introduction

Still after 25 years, Western Balkans has not arrived to the finish line, which remains

clearly the EU integration. Despite insufficient efforts, countries like Albania, Kosovo

and FYROM are still far from meeting the required criteria.

Romano Prodi in Strasbourg, 2001, underlined: “What we need to do is in effect to

“export” stability, and lay the groundwork for balanced development in all areas

bordering on the Union, drawing on the strengths of European integration. This

will make integration of our closest neighbours in the Western Balkans easier when

the time is right.”

The long transition, fatigue and skepticism about the future have considerably

increased the emigration, especially in late 2014 and during 2015, in these countries.

Several factors may be temporary, but the main push factor to migration, is the