Recommendation 7

The increase in the number and proportion of Albanian nationals arriving in the UK in small boats in 2022 was both sharp and unexpected. It is inevitable that it would attract comment from politicians and others as explanations were sought. That comment has, regrettably, seemed sometimes to single out Albania as a unique cause of asylum and migration problems that go far wider than a single country. The Government in particular should take care not to use language that may jeopardise the success of welcome recent agreements with the Government of Albania, including on co-operation over illegal migration and organised crime and on the return of irregular migrants and convicted criminals to Albania. (Paragraph 45) Next steps