The Albanian ambassador to the UK has told MPs that his fellow nationals are being forced to travel over the Channel illegally because there are no legal migration options available to them.
From May to September this year, Albanians made up 42 per cent of migrants crossing by small boat, with more than 11,000 Albanians arriving in that period.
Ambassador Qirjako Qirko, defended the actions of the illegal migrants but came under fire from Home Affairs committee member Lee Anderson.
He repeatedly told MPs his government has “no information” about an increase in people from the Balkan state making the journey to the UK, and claimed details have not been provided by the Home Office.
Mr Qirko told the committee that Albanian migrants “don’t have the possibility” to apply for legal migration.
Pressed on the matter by Mr Anderson, who questioned: “Why can’t they just visit the country for £28 and then claim asylum?
Qirjako Qirko took questions from the Home Affairs Committee about the increasing number of Albanian migrants arriving in the UK.
House of Commons
“Why can’t they claim? Why can’t they travel on the plane for £28, ie, on a holiday, then claim asylum?”
Responding to the question, Mr Qirko said “I don’t have this information”.
Albanians accounted for just over a third of Channel crossings in the first nine months of the year, figures published by the Home Office last month showed.
Out of 33,029 arrivals in the UK between January and September, 11,241 (35%) were Albanians. This is a sharp increase compared with the 3% recorded in the whole of 2021.
Asked why the number of Albanians crossing the Channel has increased so much this year, Mr Qirko said: “Officially, my embassy, my government … have no information regarding this number.”
He repeatedly insisted Albania is a “safe country”, telling MPs: “The problem is, it seems, that the people arriving here … they pretend to be a victim of modern slavery.”
But when asked if he thought all Albanians arriving are pretending, he added: “I don’t know.”
Mr Qirko later confirmed he would be happy to see Albanians deemed to be victims of modern slavery in the UK returned to their home country.
Facing questions over whether he agrees that the UK should not have to recognise any asylum claims from Albanian nationals, he said: “It’s up to the British authorities to decide”, adding: “I cannot discuss this issue because it’s not my problem. What I can say is Albania is a safe country.”