Prime Minister Keir Starmer is giving a major press conference in Albania as he steps up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans
Watch live: Keir Starmer holds press conference in Albania
Keir Starmer is giving a major press conference in Albania as he steps up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans.
During an historic first official visit to the country, the Prime Minister said the UK and Albania were beginning “the next chapter of our countries’ strong relationship” as he spoke alongside his Albanian counterpart.
At a press conference, Mr Starmer said his visit provided an “opportunity to see firsthand how our two countries are working together on some of the biggest challenges that we face”, including migration.
He said the UK has agreed a “joint statement of intent” on defence industry co-operation with Albania. The PM said the countries would “work together on the manufacture and sale of military vehicles, so another important step forward for our two countries”.
Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister, earlier hit out at how Albanians had been “stigmatised” in the UK. Speaking via a translator, he claimed citizens of the Balkan nation living in Britain had contributed in a “dignified way” but had been negatively represented “as if they were the problem of the UK” by “several media sources”.
It comes amid confirmation that the UK is in talks to deport failed asylum seekers to Albania under contentious plans being drawn up by ministers. These would see failed asylum seekers rushed to overseas detention centres before being sent to their homeland.
It comes as the PM ramps up efforts to drive down legal and illegal migration, days after coming under fire for warning the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers”.
Speaking before the press conference, the PM insisted he is “determined that we will retake control” of the UK’s borders, during a visit to Albania. Mr Starmer said: “It is totally unacceptable that anybody is getting on a small boat and crossing the Channel to the United Kingdom.
“The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders. That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade.”
He added: “What we have done in our joint work with Albania is shown that by working with other countries, this morning we saw law enforcement from Albania alongside law enforcement from the UK, driven down those numbers.
“I want to see more of that. We are absolutely determined that we are going to clear up the mess that we have been left and make sure that we get the control we need of our borders.”
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