01-08-2018, 11:18 PM
*** 9-Jan-18 World View -- Number of asylum seekers, led by Albanians, hits record high in France
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Number of asylum seekers, led by Albanians, hits record high in France
****
![[Image: g180108b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g180108b.jpg)
Migrants set up temporary shelter tents near the Canal Saint-Martin, Jaures and Stalingrad metro stations in northern Paris (Yeni Safak)
France registered over 100,000 migrant asylum requests in 2017, the
highest number in over four decades, up 17% from the previous year,
though officials say they're not overwhelmed and can cope with the
situation. This compares to a 16% rise in 2016.
Ironically, the greatest number of migrants come from within Europe
itself. Albania tops the list of countries of origin with 7,630
requests, up 66% from the previous year. Afghanistan is second with
5,987 requests, followed by Haiti with 4,934, Sudan with 4,486, and
Guinea with 3,780 asylum requests.
Germany receives a greater number of asylum requests, and expects to
receive 200,000 requests in 2018. Reuters and France 24 and YeniSafak (Turkey) and Exit (Albania)
****
**** France threatens to restore Schengen visa regime with Albania
****
Although Albania is a European country, it is not part of the European
Europe, and it is not in the Schengen Zone where people can move from
country to country without a visa. Nonetheless, a number of European
countries, including France, permit entry without a visa by someone
with an Albanian passport, and Albania is in negotiations with to
become a member of the EU.
However, because the volume of asylum seekers coming from Albania is
so large, France is threatening to advocate a return to the Schengen
visa regime for Albania, and to veto any further negotiations over
joining the EU. Germany and the Netherlands have made similar
threats.
Albania has long been the poorest country in Europe, and in 2016 had a
GDP per capita of about $4,100, according to the World Bank. This is
the reason that so many young people in Albania wish to migrate to
other European countries, and in fact figures from the IMF indicate
that 2/3 of young people in Albania intend to leave Albania for
another country, if they can.
The problem for these young people is that although currently they can
travel to other European countries without a visa, they can only
remain for a limited time, and they do not qualify for asylum. Since
the European Union has declared that Albania is a "safe country of
origin," all migrants from Albania are considered to be "economic
migrants," who do not qualify for asylum.
So among the Albanians who made asylum requests in 2016, on 6.5% of
the requests were approved. By comparison, the approval rate was 95%
for Syrians, 85% for Afghans, and 59% for people from Sudan. Exit (Albania) and Balkan Insight and Exit (Albania) and International Monetary Fund (PDF)
Related Articles
****
**** The 'Jungle' is closed in Calais France, but the migrants aren't gone
****
The "Jungle" was the migrant camp in Calais, France, where
migrants would come in the hope of reaching Britain. France
closed the Jungle camp in October 2016, and have done everything
possible to prevent the creation of a new migrant camp.
Nonetheless, there are still about 500 migrants and asylum seekers
living on the streets and in wooded areas in and around Calais,
according to Human Rights Watch, and about 100 are unaccompanied
children. Most of them are from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
According to HRW, French riot police have been confiscating or
destroying asylum seekers’ and other migrants’ personal belongings,
such as sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, and sometimes phones,
medication, and documents.
According to HRW: "The ongoing police violence and destruction and
confiscation of people’s belongings is inhumane and unconscionable.
The French authorities should immediately put an end to these abuses
and ensure that migrants are treated with the dignity to which every
human being is entitled." Human Rights Watch
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, France, Albania, Afghanistan, Germany,
The Jungle, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Number of asylum seekers, led by Albanians, hits record high in France
- France threatens to restore Schengen visa regime with Albania
- The 'Jungle' is closed in Calais France, but the migrants aren't gone
****
**** Number of asylum seekers, led by Albanians, hits record high in France
****
Migrants set up temporary shelter tents near the Canal Saint-Martin, Jaures and Stalingrad metro stations in northern Paris (Yeni Safak)
France registered over 100,000 migrant asylum requests in 2017, the
highest number in over four decades, up 17% from the previous year,
though officials say they're not overwhelmed and can cope with the
situation. This compares to a 16% rise in 2016.
Ironically, the greatest number of migrants come from within Europe
itself. Albania tops the list of countries of origin with 7,630
requests, up 66% from the previous year. Afghanistan is second with
5,987 requests, followed by Haiti with 4,934, Sudan with 4,486, and
Guinea with 3,780 asylum requests.
Germany receives a greater number of asylum requests, and expects to
receive 200,000 requests in 2018. Reuters and France 24 and YeniSafak (Turkey) and Exit (Albania)
****
**** France threatens to restore Schengen visa regime with Albania
****
Although Albania is a European country, it is not part of the European
Europe, and it is not in the Schengen Zone where people can move from
country to country without a visa. Nonetheless, a number of European
countries, including France, permit entry without a visa by someone
with an Albanian passport, and Albania is in negotiations with to
become a member of the EU.
However, because the volume of asylum seekers coming from Albania is
so large, France is threatening to advocate a return to the Schengen
visa regime for Albania, and to veto any further negotiations over
joining the EU. Germany and the Netherlands have made similar
threats.
Albania has long been the poorest country in Europe, and in 2016 had a
GDP per capita of about $4,100, according to the World Bank. This is
the reason that so many young people in Albania wish to migrate to
other European countries, and in fact figures from the IMF indicate
that 2/3 of young people in Albania intend to leave Albania for
another country, if they can.
The problem for these young people is that although currently they can
travel to other European countries without a visa, they can only
remain for a limited time, and they do not qualify for asylum. Since
the European Union has declared that Albania is a "safe country of
origin," all migrants from Albania are considered to be "economic
migrants," who do not qualify for asylum.
So among the Albanians who made asylum requests in 2016, on 6.5% of
the requests were approved. By comparison, the approval rate was 95%
for Syrians, 85% for Afghans, and 59% for people from Sudan. Exit (Albania) and Balkan Insight and Exit (Albania) and International Monetary Fund (PDF)
Related Articles
- 22 die in Macedonian police gun battles with Albanian militants (11-May-2015)
- Protesters storm Macedonia's parliament fearing calls for 'Greater Albania' (29-Apr-2017)
****
**** The 'Jungle' is closed in Calais France, but the migrants aren't gone
****
The "Jungle" was the migrant camp in Calais, France, where
migrants would come in the hope of reaching Britain. France
closed the Jungle camp in October 2016, and have done everything
possible to prevent the creation of a new migrant camp.
Nonetheless, there are still about 500 migrants and asylum seekers
living on the streets and in wooded areas in and around Calais,
according to Human Rights Watch, and about 100 are unaccompanied
children. Most of them are from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
According to HRW, French riot police have been confiscating or
destroying asylum seekers’ and other migrants’ personal belongings,
such as sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, and sometimes phones,
medication, and documents.
According to HRW: "The ongoing police violence and destruction and
confiscation of people’s belongings is inhumane and unconscionable.
The French authorities should immediately put an end to these abuses
and ensure that migrants are treated with the dignity to which every
human being is entitled." Human Rights Watch
Related Articles
- Afghan and Eritrean migrants clash at site of 'Jungle' in Calais France (24-Aug-2017)
- Court orders France to provide water and sanitation to Calais migrants (02-Aug-2017)
- Migrant camp in northern France housing 1,600 people burnt to the ground (12-Apr-2017)
- Thousands of refugees hide from French police as Calais 'Jungle' refugee camp is demolished (28-Oct-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, France, Albania, Afghanistan, Germany,
The Jungle, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
