Doha – Morocco has announced the lifting of visa formalities for Albanian citizens coming to the country for short stays – a unilateral decision aimed at boosting bilateral exchanges and tourism between the two countries.
The announcement came during a meeting held on March 1 in Rabat between Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani, who was making his first official visit to Morocco.
“Morocco has decided to lift visa formalities for Albanian citizens traveling for short stays and is committed to finalizing implementation procedures for this exemption to promote tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen bilateral relations,” stated the joint declaration signed following their talks.
Contrary to some media reports, the decision is one-sided, with only Morocco waiving visa requirements for Albanian nationals, not a reciprocal arrangement between both countries.
During their discussions, Bourita stressed that Morocco intends to organize joint commission meetings and an economic forum to give new impetus to cooperation in energy, tourism, and maritime fishing sectors.
“We want Morocco to be Albania’s gateway to Africa, and for Albania to be Morocco’s entry point to Balkan countries,” Bourita declared.
The Albanian Foreign Minister commended Morocco’s reforms under King Mohammed VI’s leadership and expressed support for the country’s territorial integrity, defending “the importance of the Western Sahara for Morocco” and considering “the Moroccan initiative as a serious and credible foundation to resolve this regional dispute.”
Albania’s endorsement adds to growing international support for Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, with over 100 countries now backing Morocco’s position, including more than 20 in Europe.
Albania’s diplomatic evolution on this issue began in 2004 when Tirana broke relations with the Polisario Front after having recognized its self-proclaimed “SADR” during the communist era in 1987.
The Albanian Foreign Minister also expressed “great interest” in King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic initiatives, particularly the November 2023 initiative aimed at facilitating Atlantic Ocean access for Sahel countries.
Both ministers articulated their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and security globally and in their respective regions, as well as respecting territorial integrity and state sovereignty.
Bourita voiced support for “Albania’s efforts to join the European Union and the comprehensive transformative reforms undertaken by the Albanian government toward future membership.”
The meeting concluded with both countries pledging to pursue consultation and coordination within international organizations while working to strengthen economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between Morocco and Albania.
Migration concerns
With Morocco taking this first step toward implementing the visa exemption, attention turns to potential irregular migration implications.
Currently, Turkiye serves as a major hub for migration flows toward Europe, with Turkish authorities reporting the deportation of 124,441 irregular migrants in 2022 alone.
Should Albania also lift visa requirements for Moroccan citizens in the future, this could potentially create a new transit route for irregular migration.
The Balkan region, including Albania, already serves as a predominant route for undocumented migration to Europe.
According to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the Western Balkan route has seen a 66% decrease in illegal border crossings compared to January 2024, indicating increased security measures in the region.
Albania is currently a candidate for European Union membership, part of the European Commission’s plan to expand the bloc with Balkan countries amid the conflict with Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
Its strategic position near EU borders but outside the Schengen zone makes it a potentially sensitive location for migration management.
