Potential EU-Albania asylum deal could help keep Germany's Angela Merkel in power

17:05, 22.06.2018

Albania is reportedly open to hosting reception centers for individuals seeking asylum in the EU. The plan could help keep embattled German Chancellor Angela Merkel in power and placate her hard-line interior minister, Deutsche Welle reports.

Albania may be set to serve as a temporary reception country for asylum-seekers headed for the European Union. Indeed, European Council President Donald Tusk and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz recently suggested establishing reception centers within Europe, albeit outside of EU territory.

Austria’s government spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal told DW that talks about such centers are, in fact, underway with Albania and other countries. But Endrri Fuga, who advises Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and heads the government’s communications department, denied any such negotiations were taking place.

Albania’s opposition, meanwhile, alleges the government wants to open reception centers in the hope that it will speed up the country’s EU accession process.

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EU-Albania asylum deal