London-Tirana confrontation over the returns of Albanian asylum seekers

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Speaking in the House of Commons on November 17, 2025, announced that the United Kingdom will begin removing families who have been definitively rejected from the country's asylum system. he Said that approximately 700 families of Albanian origin currently live in structures funded by British taxpayers, even though their country is considered "absolutely safe" and there is already a repatriation agreement.

"When the obstacle to return is not the person concerned himself, nor the British government, but the host country, then we will take the necessary measures", he stressed, underlining that voluntary returns will be encouraged, while where necessary, measures will be implemented forced evictions.

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This report caused a strong reaction in Tirana, with the Prime Minister Eddie Rama to characterize the Minister's statements as "disappointing", accusing London of adopting "rhetoric of the far-right populist right" and unjustifiably targets Albanians.

Rama emphasized that since the end of 2022, thanks to enhanced cooperation between albania And the united Kingdom, Irregular arrivals of albanians To the country have "almost eliminated", proving according to him that "immigration control worked".

At the same time, he criticized the visa restrictions and travel difficulties imposed by previous governments in London, describing them as "remnants of the failed policies of the Braverman era", which, according to him, affect not only freedom of movement but also the very british economy.

The Albanian prime minister also noted that Albanians are "net contributors" in the British economy and that they receive far fewer government benefits than other communities. “To constantly single them out it is not a policy, it is a disturbing and inappropriate exercise of demagoguery", he declared.

In closing, Rama emphasized that Albania remains strategic ally of the United Kingdom on security and immigration control issues in the Balkans, calling on London to deepens cooperation instead of looking for scapegoats.