Two different Balkan nations seen as potential locations for UK migrant returns say they haven’t been requested by the UK.
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Vjosa Osmani, the president of Kosovo, stated: “There’s been no formal talks with the UK on this issue. It hasn’t been raised so far.
“We’d be open to discussing it, nevertheless I am unable to say greater than that as a result of I do not know the main points. I can not give a solution on a request that hasn’t been made to this point.”
Ms Osmani called the UK a “steadfast ally”. UK-supplied technology is being used in Kosovo to stop illicit goods and vulnerable people from reaching British shores.
The prime minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, said: “I am not knowledgeable about this. We should always discuss with the UK prime minister later immediately.”
Requested if formal talks had begun, he stated: “No, not yet.”
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Near 22,000 folks used the Western Balkans to enter Europe final 12 months, the International Workplace stated earlier this 12 months.
There are stories the UK is in talks with as many as 9 nations.
There are six nations within the Western Balkans, that are seen as central to UK efforts to tackling unlawful migration. Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are the others, alongside Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
David Lammy, the overseas secretary, visited Kosovo final month and on the identical journey, he signed an settlement with Serbia to crack down on smuggling gangs.
Kosovo, one among Europe’s poorest nations, has agreed a take care of Denmark to take 300 of its overseas prisoners to serve out their sentences earlier than deportation – in return for 200 million euros. The deal, struck in 2021, will not be up and operating but.
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On Thursday, the Albanian prime minister publicly slapped down the thought of a UK returns hub in his nation, saying their settlement with Italy was a “one-off” deal for Rome – their key ally.
Mr Rama voiced his displeasure with how Albanians had been “stigmatised” within the UK.
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow residence secretary, has accused the UK’s prime minister of being “panic mode” over small boat crossings this 12 months – and restated his stance that the Rwanda deportation scheme needs to be revived.
Sir Keir later met Mr Mickoski for a one-to-one chat on the summit. Return hubs weren’t talked about within the readout of their dialog.
A Downing Avenue spokeswoman stated the nations had “signalled an intent to work more closely on shared challenges, including economic growth, trade, defence and security”.
“The leaders also discussed North Macedonia’s recent agreement to join the Joint Migration Taskforce, further boosting regional cooperation to prevent irregular migrants transiting the Balkans and disrupting the criminal gangs that facilitate them.”
