Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2025 to Question 48940 on European Political Community, whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department attended.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister attended the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania on 16 May. No Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers attended. A small number of FCDO officials attended to support the Prime Minister's attendance.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the integrity, freedom, and fairness of the recent Albanian general election held on 11 May.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK promotes free and fair elections and works closely with international community partners, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in support of democratic process and structures in Albania. The UK contributed observers to the ODIHR-led observation mission. We share the mission's preliminary conclusions that the election was "competitive and professionally conducted but took place in a highly polarized environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field".
It is important that deficiencies in electoral practices and reported election irregularities are addressed to support public confidence in the process. We continue to encourage the Albanian authorities and Central Election Commission to make best use of ODIHR expertise and implement outstanding recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have discussed with the government of Albania recent reports of alleged illegal and corrupt practices at the Albanian general election on 11 May.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK promotes free and fair elections and works closely with international community partners, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in support of democratic process and structures in Albania. The UK contributed observers to the ODIHR-led observation mission. We share the mission's preliminary conclusions that the election was "competitive and professionally conducted but took place in a highly polarized environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field".
It is important that deficiencies in electoral practices and reported election irregularities are addressed to support public confidence in the process. We continue to encourage the Albanian authorities and Central Election Commission to make best use of ODIHR expertise and implement outstanding recommendations.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to improve trading relations with Albania.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Albania was worth £358 million in 2024, an increase of 11% or £35 million in current prices from 2023.
DBT actively works to resolve barriers to trade affecting companies exporting to Albania, and our trade relationship is underpinned by the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement (PTCA), signed in 2021. This agreement offers generous trade preferences and places a strong emphasis on cooperation across key trade themes that are common to major trade agreements. We look forward to convening the next PTCA Joint Committee in the near future.
Asked by: Robert Jenrick (Reform UK - Newark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what meetings (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with the (i) Albanian, (ii) Polish, (iii) Romanian, (iv) Irish and (v) Jamaican Government to discuss increasing the number of foreign national offenders returned from UK prisons in the last six months.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Increasing the numbers of foreign national offender returns from our prisons is a priority for this government. We are working with international partners to achieve this.
In the last six months, the Foreign Secretary discussed criminal justice cooperation with Poland when he met Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski in December 2024 and with Albania when he met Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani on 19 March.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has for participation by (a) Ministers and (b) officials at the European Political Community Summit in Albania on 16 May 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK values the European Political Community (EPC) as a format that brings together leaders from across Europe for frank discussions about shared challenges such as European security and irregular migration. The UK has played a central role in the EPC since its inception, particularly through hosting at Blenheim Palace in July 2024. We welcome Albania's hosting of the EPC on 16 May. Attendance at the EPC is at leader-level only and cannot be delegated. We will set out the Prime Minister's travel plans in the usual way.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 34801 on Asylum: Albania, what steps her Department has taken to ensure the continued reduction in the number of Albanian nationals arriving in the UK by small boat.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Small boat crossings by Albanian nationals have reduced each year since their peak in 2022. This government is committed to working with the Albanian government to further reduce these numbers, including through communications campaigns that demonstrate the dangers of these crossings, and ensuring that Albanian nationals with no right to be in the UK are returned efficiently to Albania.
We also continue to work with other international partners to target the people smugglers who exploit migrants for profit. The Home Secretary has convened an international summit focussed on Organised Immigration Crime, bringing together Interior Ministers and law enforcement experts, including from Albania, to develop our combined response to the gangs who facilitate this vile trade in human lives.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost to the public purse was of supporting the modernisation of the Albanian prison system.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In addition to work to disrupt Organised Immigration Crime and address the long-term drivers of migration, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and the Ministry of Justice work together to enable the return of eligible Albanian foreign national offenders to serve the remainder of their sentence in Albania. As part of an arrangement signed under the previous government in 2023 to implement the 2021 Prisoner Transfer Agreement, £4.3 million was committed over three years to support the modernisation of the Albanian prison system. We are reviewing the operation of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Albania signed by the previous Government to understand how more prisoners can be sent back to serve their time in Albanian prisons. During 2024,1,610 Albanian FNOs were removed from England and Wales - the highest number of any nationality and up 7% from the previous year.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department have made an assessment of the efficacy of the Government’s illegal migration returns agreement with Albania.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK and Albania have established a close and productive relationship on irregular migration and returns over recent years. 2024 saw 616 Albanian nationals arrive in the UK from Albania by small boat, a reduction from 12,658 in 2022. In the same year, 5,294 Albanian nationals were returned, an increase from 2,035 in 2022.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support Albania to tackle corruption.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) remains a consistent supporter of efforts to tackle corruption in Albania, through diplomatic engagement and programmes funded by the UK's Integrated Security Fund (ISF) and FCDO Official Development Assistance (ODA). Ongoing support includes working with Albania's security and justice institutions to strengthen accountability and transparency, support to lawmakers to improve the effectiveness of legislation, and empowering journalists to act as effective watchdogs for corruption in public procurement and appointments.