Albanian PM Edi Rama met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Ten Downing Street in London on Thursday, March 23, 2023. This marks the first meeting between the leaders of both countries after a period of tension over the issue of immigration.
The British government has attributed criminality to ethnic Albanians in the UK, which sparked criticism from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who accused the British government of “discriminating” against Albanians. This has strained relations between the two countries, with the British government accusing Albanian criminals of being behind many of the small-boat crossings of the English Channel from mainland Europe.
The meeting between Rama and Sunak is closely watched by both sides, as they seek to find a way forward on the issue of immigration. The Albanian government has pledged to crack down on criminal gangs involved in smuggling migrants into the UK, while the British government has called for stronger measures to deter illegal immigration.
The meeting between Rama and Sunak is seen as an important step towards finding a solution to the current tensions between the two countries. However, it remains to be seen whether the two sides can reach a compromise that satisfies both the UK’s need for tighter immigration controls and Albania’s concerns about discrimination against its citizens.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused the British government of discriminating against Albanians, particularly in relation to the issue of migration. Rama’s criticism follows recent controversial comments by Britain’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, who has been accused of using inflammatory language about migrants and alleging that many Albanian asylum seekers pose as children.
