Promoting Safe Migration and Preventing Human Trafficking in Albania

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2 Survey Report on the Outcomes of the IOM Project: Promoting Safe Migration and Preventing Human Trafficking in Albania Center for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) Rruga Mihal Duri, P. 60/1/5, Tirana Tel/Fax: ; cess@albnet.net Tirana, April 2007

3 Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration and of the British Embassy in Tirana. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Publisher: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Rr. Brigada VIII, Vila Nr. 3 Tirana, Albania Tel: / 37, Fax: iomtirana@iomtirana.org.al Internet: Editor: Ruth Rosenberg 2007 International Organization for Migration, Albania 2

4 Overview Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Objectives and Methodology 2. Socio-demographic profile of the respondents 3. The results of the survey 4. Potential emigration 6. Illegal emigration and human trafficking 7. Findings and recommendations Bibliography Annexes 3

5 Acknowledgments This study was undertaken with the assistance of many individuals and organizations. We would like to thank Silvana Mjeda, Miriam Neziri, Silvana Haxhiaj and Silvana Likkola for their support and feedback throughout this work. They helped us patiently in the design of the questionnaires, assisted in the field-work, provided feedback during field data analysis and while we were writing the report. The field research in Albania was coordinated by Dr. Ilir Gedeshi with the collaboration of others individuals from local universities. We are especially thankful to the field work interviewers: Egest Gjokuta and Livia Nano (CESS), Dhurata Milori and Raela Hafizi students from the University of Tirana, Ylber Cejku and Edona Doçi from Kukës. We are thankful to Nadire Xhaxho who tirelessly entered questionnaire data and ensured its quality; to Enkeleda Shehi who compiled and tabulated the data; and to Sofia Noti who translated the text into English. We wish to thank as well Ms. Iva Zajmi, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ms. Shpresa Rama, expert at the Ministry of Education and Sciences, Ms. Edlira Haxhiymeri, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Tirana, Ms.. Evis Fico, expert at the National Employing Service, and many other individuals for the useful interviews they gave us regarding the project. We are most grateful to the participants of our survey for being open and frank during interviews. We extend our warm acknowledgment to all the people in various regions in Albania who consented to be interviewed. Finally, without the financial generosity of British Embassy in Tirana, this study would have been far less comprehensive. We are most grateful for their support. The authors 4

6 Acronyms and Abbreviations CESS EU GDP IOM INSTAT MFA MLSA UK USA WB Center for Economic and Social Studies European Union Gross Domestic Products International Organization for Migration National Statistical Agency of Albania Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Labor Social Affairs and Equal Chances United Kingdom United States World Bank 5

7 Introduction In 1989, Aristide Zolberg, a well-known student of international emigration, wrote that if all the countries of the world were like Albania on one hand and Japan on the other, studying international migration would not be a necessity 1. Ironically, almost one year latter, consecutive waves of international migration, illegal and chaotic, resulted in Albania becoming one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon. This is so evident that Russell King defines the country as a kind of laboratory for studying the new migration processes. 2 This phenomena, present in all Albania s territory has accompanied with varying intensity all the phases of the country s transition. At the end of 2006, it is estimated that more than 25 percent of the Albanian population or around one million people, mainly youth, 3 have migrated outside the country, especially to Greece and Italy. Meanwhile, internal migration has affected hundreds of thousands of others. 4 A report of the United Nations Organization 5, based on the migration experiences from Southern to Northern Europe during the 1960 s, estimates that the gap in income per capita, the scale of unemployment and the perception people have about their future, constitute the determinant factors that explain the impetus for increased migration. All of these factors have acted with high intensity during the first decade of the post-socialist transition in Albania. In 2001, the GDP per capita in Italy and Greece, two of the neighbouring countries where Albanian international migration was mainly concentrated, was respectively sixteen and eight times higher than in Albania 6. Meanwhile, unemployment during this period was estimated to be in double digits 7. Regarding the perception people had about their future, a study realized in the end of the 90s with 1481 persons from all regions of Albania, concludes that the intention to emigrate in 1998 remains very strong 8. Research shows that emigration is the main mechanism to cope with poverty and to improve the living conditions for many Albanian families. According to a study conducted by the World Bank in 2001 on the qualitative estimation of poverty, migrants remittances constitute an important part of the living strategies of Albanian families. The remittances of emigrants directly contributed to an increase in the families income and to an increase in the consumption of goods and services. The study concluded that remittances from emigration are the main factor that made the difference between a poor family and a non-poor one. The families that benefited from remittances were most likely to be classified as non-poor 9. Another study, conducted by IOM in 2005, showed that emigration has played a major role in the improvement of the overall financial situation of Albanian families. 89 percent of the approximately 1000 families of emigrants that were interviewed received remittances from the emigrants during These remittances represented 43 percent of the families budgets. When the family members of the emigrants were asked to express their views regarding emigration and remittances, the conclusions were very interesting. The families that received remittances expressed a positive opinion regarding emigration. Only 3.7 percent of the respondents of this category stated that their financial situation did not improve. This data may be compared with that of the families that did not received remittances from emigrants, of which 58.7 percent reported that their financial situation did not improve Zolberg A., The next waves: migration theory for a changing world, International Migration Reviews, 1989, 23 (3) 2 King R., Across the sea and over the mountains: documenting Albanian Migration, School of European Studies, University of Sussex, INSTAT., Preliminary Results of the Population and Housing Census UNDP, Human Development Report UNO., Economic Survey of Europe in , Geneva World Bank., Albania Poverty Assessment, November NSTAT, Papapanagos H., Sanfey P., Albanian Emigration: Intentions versus Actual Behaviour, Working Paper, 2002

8 Despite that material living conditions have improved during the last years in Albania 11, economic conditions remain the main cause of Albanian emigration. A study conducted by CESS showed that at the end of 2006, around 44 percent of the population between the ages of 18 and 40, especially from the poorest areas of the country; wish to emigrate in the short- or long-term from Albania 12. More than 60 percent of them state that the main factor that pushes them to emigrate is the improvement of their living standards, unemployment, and unsatisfactory working conditions. Consequently, due to the economic conditions and the demographic increase 13, emigration from Albania will continue into the future. This emigration, likewise, will also be encouraged in the future from the lowering of fertility and decline in the working-age population in the countries of the European Union (EU) 14. Italy and Germany for instance, two preferred destination countries by the Albanian emigrants, already suffer from declining populations. This decline in the workingage population will create a demand for workers that can only be sourced from abroad. Albanian emigration has played a positive role not only for the individual/family and the country of origin, but also for the economy of the host-countries. In Greece for instance, where Albanian emigrants work mainly in agriculture, construction and services 15, research shows that Albanian migrants have contributed to an increase in the GDP and to the revival of specific sectors of the Greek economy 16. Conscious of these tendencies, the Albanian government aims to change the emigration of its citizens into a legal and organized process 17. However, despite the efforts made by the Albanian government and private agencies to somehow regulate and organize emigration of Albanian citizens, illegal emigration has been and still remains the most common form of migration 18. Illegal emigration of Albanians takes place in the following ways: Overstaying the tourist or business visas. Illegal crossing of land borders on foot. Illegal crossing via the Adriatic and Ionian Sea using speedboats (mostly encountered during ). Illegal border crossing by taxi, ship or air. Claiming Kosovo identity (practiced during the period of Kosovo crisis). The process of Emigration has positive and negative consequences for the socio-economic development of the country. In this context, the policy of every government, no matter to what political wing it belongs to, must aim to maximize the positive impact of emigration and to minimize its negative consequences. Along with the improvement of the economic and social situation and the creation of the condition for the free movement of persons in the EU countries, come risks associated with migration as such exploitation, break-up of families, loss of cultural linkages, etc. The Albanian government as well as local and international organizations must educate and raise the awareness of the people regarding the risks that come from illegal emigration and other negative phenomena related to it, such as smuggling and human trafficking. 9 De Soto H., Gordon P., Gedeshi I., Sinoimeri Z., Poverty in Albania. A Qualitative Assessment, The World Bank Washington D.C., de Zwager N., Gedeshi I., Germenji E., Nikas Ch., Competing for Remittances. Tirana World Bank estimates that poverty in Albania has been reduced from 26% in 2002, to 18% in 2005, while extreme poverty for the same period has been reduced from 5% to 3.5%. 12 CESS., Potential migration from Albania, Working Paper, Mitra P., Migration and Remittances. Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, Presentation based on the study Migration and Remittances. Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, World Bank, Ibid. 15 De Zwager N., Gedeshi I., Germenji E., Nikas Ch., Competing for Remittances. Tirana Ibid. 7

9 Empirical studies show that human trafficking and smuggling are perceived as the most disturbing problems during the transition of the Albanian society 19. They are perceived as disturbing problems for affected individuals, the community, and for society as a whole, on one hand and as real barriers to Albania s European integration. Therefore, in recent years, with the support of international organizations, responses have been taken to address these issues. Information, education and increasing the awareness of citizens - especially youth about illegal emigration, trafficking and smuggling of human beings, especially to the dangers, the individual and social consequences, and the concrete methodologies used for their realization, is seen as an important form of prevention 20. In the framework of this objective a team led by IOM implemented a project financed by the British Embassy in Tirana, in six regions of the country. The project aimed to inform and to increase awareness about illegal emigration, trafficking and human smuggling, as well as to encourage/promote regular emigration, including the importance of respecting the rules of the host-country. This study analyzes the results of the above-mentioned project and provides some main findings and recommendations that come from this experience. This study is organized into three main parts. The first part explains the methodology and the data sources. The second part analyzes the qualitative and quantitative data collected from six regions of the country. The third part is comprised of the conclusions and recommendations on how to improve our work regarding the prevention of illegal emigration and the fight against trafficking and human smuggling. The activities of IOM The International Organization for Migration (IOM), to which Albania has been a member since 1993, has implemented many projects for strengthening institutional capacities and drafting of appropriate migration policies. It has offered information and assistance for the reintegration of migrants and local and foreign victims of trafficking, as well as for the prevention of trafficking through educational activities. During the period February April 2007, an IOM team in Tirana implemented a project that aimed to strengthen the existing channels as well as to create effective new information channels for potential migrants and for groups at risk of being trafficked. In this framework, a mobile information centre was created and two information dissemination points were established one in Peshkopi and one in Elbasan (both attached to the regional employment offices). Media experts were trained and a toll free help line on migration and trafficking information was made operational. This project took place in the regions of Shkodra, Kukës, Dibra, Durrës, Elbasan and Vlora. The project was implemented in line with the Action Plan of the Albanian National Strategy on Migration and with the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings ( ) of the Albanian government and is fully in line with the EU policies on migration. It aims to facilitate legal migration by disseminating related information. This project complemented previous projects of IOM regarding the fight against illegal migration by encouraging regular migration and the prevention of human trafficking through the establishment of Regional Service Centres for Migrants. This project aimed to create new mechanisms to disseminate in National Strategy on Migration and the National Action Plan on Migration, Tirana, July, De ZwagerN.,Gedeshi I., Germenji E., Nikas Ch, Competig for Remittances. Tirana Sokoli L., Gedeshi I., Trafficking, the Albanian case. Rinia, Tirana, 2006; IOM., The best practices for drafting programmes on the prevention of trafficking at schools. Tirana, September, National Strategy on Migration and the National Action Plan on Migration, Tirana, July, 2005

10 formation about the procedures, legislation, and the regular ways of migration. It also sought to encourage regular migration, to prevent human trafficking 21, and to support the social inclusion of trafficking victims by reducing the forms of irregular migration. In parallel the project worked to build and strengthen the capacity of the Albanian government structures for the implementation of the National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan, as well as the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, including its Action Plan The direct beneficiaries of the project are potential migrants and those most at risk of being trafficked, victims of trafficking, officials in the National Employment Service, NGOs, journalists, and the professional media. Using a wider meaning, a beneficiary of this project is also the Albanian society as a whole. 1. Objectives and Methodology The scope of this study is to assess the impact of the IOM project on the level of information and awareness of the population in the six selected areas (Shkodra, Kukës, Dibra, Durrës, Elbasan and Vlora) about legal migration, the trafficking phenomena, their past migration experiences or future plans and other related issues Objectives Specific objectives of this project include: 1. To evaluate the efficiency of the methods utilized during the wide informative campaigns in six selected areas of the country; 2. To identify the level of knowledge in the population on these issues, attitudes and planned future behaviour after the conclusion of IOM s project; 3. To provide recommendations on improving the population s (especially youth s) access to information about legal international migration and the prevention of human trafficking and smuggling Methodology The analytic work for this study is primarily based on qualitative data obtained from a survey with of 849 persons, mostly students and young people, from which 196 persons (23.1 percent) were in Shkodra, 72 (8.5 percent) in Kukës, 88 (10.4 percent) in Dibra, 205 (24.1 percent) in Elbasan, 175 (20.6 percent) in Durrës, and 113 (13.3 percent) in Vlora (Graph 1). 21 The prevention of Human Being Trafficking in the Balkans by Educative Activities and by Increasing the Capacities of the Schools; The encouragement of Regular Migration in the Western Balkans 9

11 Graph 1. Survey s distribution per area 10 Along with quantitative techniques the study also used qualitative techniques such as: 1) a desktop review of existing literature and 2) interviews with the directors and experts of public institutions, teachers and professors, and with other persons responsible for issues related to the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings. The research team also utilized studies and other qualitative and quantitative data for international migration and trafficking that CESS has undertaken. Desktop review served to define the problems related to international migration, trafficking and smuggling of human beings. Based on the existing literature and the activities implemented by IOM with students and youngsters as well as with other members of the community, the questionnaire was drafted. All the utilized sources are listed in the bibliography. Interviews. The research team interviewed directors and experts of public institutions, teachers and professors, and other persons responsible for the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings. These interviews assisted in the analysis of the data and the framing of the conclusions and recommendations for the report. All of the interviews were recorded and their transcripts entered into the computer for later analysis. Sociological questionnaires. The research team realized questionnaires with students, youth, and community members in six areas of Albania situated in the North, North-East, middle Albania and South West (Shkodra, Kukës, Dibra, Durrës, Elbasan, and Vlora). The questionnaire included 40 structured questions and required an average of ten minutes to complete. Development of the questionnaire took place in two phases. During the first phase, the questionnaire was drafted based on the existing literature and in continuous cooperation with the IOM team in Tirana. During the second phase the draft questionnaire was tested with (a) students of different levels in a high school in Tirana that was not included in this study; and with (b) citizens of the age range years old. The questionnaire was revised as a result and the final questionnaire produced. Research team. The research team was composed primarily of trained socio-economic researchers and field-workers with previous experience in conducting similar surveys. An im-

12 portant criteria in the selection of the individuals for the research team was their capacity to communicate sensitive issues and to build trust with the students and school age youth. The research team was trained regarding the scope and the objectives of the study, the content of the questionnaire, the way it should be conducted, and on other related aspects of this survey. The selection of the schools that participated in this survey was based on the schools where IOM conducted its project. Schools of different levels and profiles were selected, including nine-year secondary schools, general-profiled high schools, and professional high schools. The selected schools were located in different regions of the country, in cities and in rural areas. In accordance with the aim and objectives of the study, the survey of youth and students included two groups: 391 students and young adults who took part in the activities organized by IOM on international migration, trafficking, and smuggling in human beings that are represented in this study by the activity group ; and 336 students and youngsters that did not take part in such activities and in this study are represented by the control group. In the selection of the respondents a combination of random and intentional methods were used. The purpose of using intentional methods aimed at selecting students from the activity group and control group. It also served to preserve the equilibrium between male and female respondents. The random method aimed to randomly select students within the same categories and in accordance with a similar procedure. In each of the schools the selection of the individuals was made in the following way: 1. The research team initially contacted the school s principals, presented the scope of the study, and ensured their approval and cooperation for conducting this survey. 2. The classes that will be respondents were then determined taking into account the distribution criteria of activity group and control group classes. 3. Based on the students register two lists per each class were drafted, one for the males and one for the females This was made in order to ensure equilibrium among both genders. 4. From the lists individuals were chosen in accordance with a pre-set order (for instance individuals corresponding to numbers 4,8,16, etc.). 5. The selected students were brought into a special classroom, each one seated at a single desk and independently and without communicating with each other, filled in the questionnaires. In addition to the students in schools, the research respondents also included 122 citizens between 18 and 40 years of age in the areas where the IOM project took place. The survey was conducted with people on the street, in local business, and in public places (c.f. man-on-thestreet method). The research team purposively selected individuals of various ages and gender. 11

13 All of the completed questionnaires are entered in the computer, checked and processed by an experienced statistician using SPSS software. 2. The socio-demographic profile of the studied respondents The qualitative data of the respondents was analyzed to determine gender, age-range, ethnicity, education level, civil status, place of residence, economic status and their experiences abroad. The data of the survey shows that 60.4 percent of the respondents were female and 396 percent were male. This deviation from the criteria of having a gender-balanced population is explained mainly with the gender structure of the classroom population that from which respondents were selected. The highest deviations are noticed in Dibra (where 69.3 percent of the respondents are female) and the smallest in Kukës (where 48.6 percent of the respondents are female). Almost 83 percent of the respondents are between 18 and 20 years of age, around 8 percent are years old, and 9 percent are between 31 and 40 years old. The predominance of youth is explained by the fact that a majority of the questionnaires were conducted with students at schools. Students and youth represent, therefore, around 86 percent of the total respondents. Of the 14 percent of the survey population who are not students, around 63 percent are employed and 37 percent are unemployed. Concerning ethnicity around 97 percent of the respondents are ethnic Albanians, 1.2 percent are Roma/Egyptians, and 1.5 percent are Greeks, Vlachs, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Bosnians. The majority of respondents or around 88.1 percent of them continue or have completed high school education, and around 7.7 percent continue or have completed University education. Most of the respondents (54.5 percent) come from urban areas. This percentage is higher in Vlora, Kukës, and Peshkopi where all the respondents are from the urban areas. While in Durres, Elbasan and Shkodra the respondents come from the rural and urban areas. Almost 69 percent of the respondents have lived in their current neighbourhoods since before 1990, while 31 percent moved into these neighbourhoods after Consequently, 1/3 of the respondents stated that they have migrated from other areas of Albania mainly from remote rural areas. This internal migration was a common phenomenon during the transition period. Most of the respondents, around 63 percent say that the financial situation of their families is sufficient, while around 19 percent state that it is sometimes sufficient sometimes not. The survey shows that most of the families that have a sometimes sufficient sometimes not, insufficient, and totally insufficient family financial situation are mostly from the regions of North and North-East Albania: in Dibra (39.7 percent), in Kukës (33.3 percent), and in Shkodra (30.1 percent). Compared with other families in their neighbourhood, almost 38 percent of the respondents respond that they feel the same, around 34 percent that they feel better off and 24 percent that they feel much better off 12

14 Almost 25 percent of the respondents in the six studied regions have had an experience abroad. This percentage is higher in Dibra (around 55 percent), in Vlora (around 48 percent) and in Kukës (around 14 percent); and lower in Elbasan (around 19 percent, in Shkodra (around 14 percent), and in Durrës (9 percent). Almost 59 percent of the respondents that have been abroad were there on vacations and around 29 percent were there as economic emigrants. II. The Results of the Survey Almost 49 percent of the respondents in the six regions where the project took place have participated in the activities on migration and human smuggling organized by IOM. A higher participation is observed in Durrës (67.4 percent), in Elbasan (52.2 percent), and in Shkodra (50.5 percent), while in the other areas the number of respondents is nearer to the average. In two regions, Dibra and Elbasan, around 45 percent of the respondents also received information on regular migration and prevention of human trafficking from National Employment Offices. 13

15 Another source of information on regular migration and the prevention of human beings trafficking is also the IOM mobile information centre. Almost 49 percent of the respondents state that they have been informed from this centre. The majority of respondents, around 66.3, evaluate the information given from IOM s campaigns as very useful and 27 percent evaluate this information as somewhat useful. A small number of the respondents evaluate this information as of little use (7 percent) and 2.4 percent of them respond that they cannot evaluate it. The evaluation of very useful is higher than average in Durrës (76 percent), Elbasan (66 percent), and Shkodra (66 percent). Graph 3. Respondents evaluation of the information disseminated by IOM s information campaign Most of the respondents, 62.5 percent, who evaluated the information as little useful, respond that their exposure time to the material was insufficient. 14

16 The respondents evaluate TV broadcasts (32.7 percent) and documentary films (18.9 percent) as the most effective information sources. Almost 17.6 percent evaluate information and awareness-raising meetings as an effective source, and around 11.1 percent of others prefer publicity spots. A smaller number of respondents evaluate leaflets (5.9 percent), posters (4.8 percent), brochures, (4.7 percent) and promotional articles (4.3 percent) as the most effective information sources. Graph 4: Most effective information sources Source: Survey on migration and trafficking of human beings, March Most of the respondents or around 59 percent of them say that they are aware of the existence of a toll free help line where they can get information if they want to emigrate regularly or if they feel in danger of being trafficked. Only 29.6 percent of the respondents respond that they are not aware of the existence of such a toll free help line. According to an IOM employee: This telephone line has been functional since mid-november Since then an increase in the number of calls was observed. This was especially visible after a TV show organized by IOM on one of the most popular private TV channels in the country and after the implementation of the information campaign through the mobile information centre activities organized in the six areas covered by the project. These phone calls come not only from Tirana but also from other regions such as Shkodra, Durrës, Vlora, Gjirokastra, Lezha, Korça, Kukes, etc.. 15

17 Box 1. According to Ms. Iva Zajmi, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Interior: One of the directions of the programme to promote regular emigration and to combat human trafficking is the functioning of a toll-free telephone line for citizens with the number Through this number people can receive advice on legal emigration and can report to the authorities cases of human trafficking. To this number citizens from all over Albania may call free of charge 24 hours a day, every day of the week without having to give their personal data ( ) Since the publication of this number, around 100 calls are received every day, mainly from females. A part of them want to know about regular emigration, but there are also cases that have problems with human trafficking. Of those respondents who know about the toll free help line, most, or around 64 percent, define the media as one of their main information sources on its existence. Another group of respondents of around 36 percent say that information sources are seminars or information centres. Around 29 percent of them state that brochures, leaflets, and posters are their main information source regarding the toll free help line. Concerning the option schools, teachers only 20 percent of the respondents state this as their main information source. A small number of respondents identify family (13.2 percent) and friends/knowledge (11.6 percent) as an information source. Note: The respondents were able to give more than one response Potential Migration According to a CESS-conducted study in the beginning of 2007 almost 44 percent of the Albanian population, between 18 and 40 years of age, wishes to emigrate from Albania 22. The study shows that the migratory potential of the Albanian population is higher for males com CESS., Potential migration from Albania, Working Paper, 2007

18 pared to females, and is visibly higher for younger people and for the population of the poorest areas of the country. These tendencies of the potential migration are in line also with the previously observed tendencies. Three researchers from Sussex University, using econometric models for data analyzing from the Albania Living Standards Measurement Survey (ALSMS) of 2002, conclude that: The male and skilled youngsters are most likely willing to emigrate compared to other groups of the population 23. Despite the fact that it is high, this migratory potential of the Albanian population visibly decreased after 2000, mainly as a result of the improvement of living standards and as a result of the obstacles to emigrate legally. A study conducted in 1998 from two researchers, H. Papapanagos and P. Sanfey, 24 showed that 76.4 percent of the male respondents and 73.3 percent of females wanted to emigrate from Albania. The study reached the conclusion that: even though about Albanians are currently living abroad, the intention to emigrate among those who remain is still strong 25. The study of CESS showed that the main reason for emigrating is the improvement of living standards (around 38 percent), unemployment (around 18 percent), and unsatisfactory working conditions (around 10 percent). Potential migrants wish to emigrate mainly to Italy (32.4 percent), Greece (27.6 percent), the United States (USA) (15 percent), and the United Kingdom (UK) (12.1 percent) 26. However, the survey data for emigration and human trafficking showed that almost 58 percent of the respondents consider emigrating from Albania. This difference when compared to the earlier CESS survey is explained by the preponderance of young respondents in this survey. Among those under 30, the wish to emigrate is almost 59 percent. Meanwhile, the wish to emigrate is higher in rural areas (59 percent) compared to urban areas (57 percent). It is higher in the population who has been living in their neighbourhood prior to 1990 (60 percent) compared to those who moved into their neighbourhood during the transition period. Regarding the geographical point of view, the data show that the wish to emigrate is higher in North and North-east areas: Shkodra 64 percent, Dibra around 60 percent, and Kukës around 63 percent. The desire to emigrate is lower in Central Albania and in the South-West: Elbasan around 51 percent, Vlora around 50 percent, and Durrës around 59 percent. The desire to emigrate is connected with the difficult economic conditions of the respondents families in the North and North-East areas of the country, where the poverty level is higher than in the rest of the country as confirmed by a study from the World Bank and INSTAT 27. Concerning gender, the desire to emigrate is higher among males (around 64 percent of them wish to emigrate) than the females (53 percent). 23 Castaldo A., Litchfield J., Reilly B., Who is Most Likely to Migrate from Albania? Evidence from the Albania Living Standards Measurement Survey, Paper presented at the Conference New Perspectives on Albanian Migration and Development, Korça, Albania, September Papapanagos H., Sanfey P., Albanian Emigration: Intentions versus Actual Behavior, Working Paper, According to the authors in 1992, 72.7 percent of the males and 51.3 percent of the females wanted to emigrate from Albania. 26 CESS., Potential migration from Albania, Working Paper, According to the World Bank study almost half of the population that live in the most remote mountainous areas in the North and North- East Albania are poor and very poor and more than 20 percent live in extreme poverty. Albania Poverty Assessment, Document of the World Bank, November

19 Graph 5. The desire to emigrate according to gender and regions Concluding, the desire for migrating abroad is higher among the youth of the poor families of the rural areas in North and North-east Albania. Consequently in future projects must target these communities. The quantitative data received from the survey are also confirmed by expert opinion. According to an interview with Ms. Iva Zajmi, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Interior Affairs future projects must target the youth, since the wish to emigrate among them appears to be higher. The desire to emigrate is conditioned by the financial, human, and social capital of the persons (and their families) who express this desire 28. A study on poverty conducted in 2001 from the World Bank in Albania shows that the individuals from very poor families do not have the possibility to emigrate as they lack the financial, human and social capital to do so 29. Therefore, the respondents were asked about their ability to emigrate in the coming two years. The data shows that the answers vary. Around 37 percent of the respondents who want to emigrate respond that they have the possibility to realize such a goal. Furthermore, around 22 percent respond that it is very likely that they will emigrate. Nevertheless, another category of respondents, around 19 percent, state that maybe it is likely maybe not that they will have the possibility to emigrate. Around 13 percent of the respondents answered that it is unlikely, and around 9 percent that it is very unlikely that they will emigrate. If the answers it is likely and it is very likely are taken together, the highest percentage of respondents that gave those answers is observed in: Shkodra (71.2 percent), Elbasan 66.7 percent), and Durrës (59.6 percent). The lowest percentage of respondents that answered as above is in: Dibra (32.9 percent) and in Kukës (44.4) percent Gedeshi I., Sabates-Wheeler R., Poverty, Vulnerability and Migration during transition in Albania, Working Paper, De Soto H., Gordon P., Gedeshi I., Sinoimeri Z., Poverty in Albania. A Qualitative Assessment, The World Bank Washington D.C., 2002

20 The financing of their travel is related to the financial situation of the family of the potential migrant and is often a real obstacle for emigration. From the data of this survey it results that only around 39 percent of the respondents are able to finance their travel to the host country. While around 25 percent of the respondents state that they are not able to finance their travel and 37 percent answer that they don t know. The data of the survey show that there exists a close correlation between the financial situation of the family and the possibility to finance travel to the host country. According to the respondents only 61 percent of them that come from families with more than sufficient incomes are able to finance their travel. This indicator is around 42 percent for the families with sufficient incomes, and around 19 percent for the families with sometimes sufficient and sometimes not incomes. Box 2 30 In absence of the possibilities to assure a short-term visa, there are only two ways left to emigrate. The first way is the one of illegal emigration, alone or in groups, which is becoming very difficult in recent years. Agimi who has immigrated many times to Greece tells: Some years ago it was easier to illegally emigrate in Greece. Now there are strong police checks in the border. This seems to stop many of the men of the families from emigrating. Shpëtim who has migrated in Drenova village together with his wife and his little child explains: I cannot immigrate illegally because I cannot risk leaving my wife and my child on the street. Likewise the second way of emigration is through the purchase of false documents on the black market or the illegal crossing of the border with the aid of smugglers, which costs a lot 31.At the end of the 1990s to go illegally from Albania to Athens or to Thessalonica, through smugglers, cost drahmis per person. While the cross of the border with a false visa cost twice as much and the success was not guaranteed 32. In the price of a short-term Greek visa on the black market was more than 500 Euro 33. Furthermore, emigrants must also be able to afford other expenses, like transportation to the destination, food and shelter until they find a job and receive their salary. Consequently, the second way is conditioned by the family s financial capital. This is why the poor people do not emigrate and have therefore little possibility to escape extreme poverty. Arrehag et al., analyzing the use of emigrants remittances in Korça region, notes that they are not used to pay back migration debts. The authors conclude that people who do not have the amount of money required for migration are most likely unable to migrate and they are the ones who remain in Albania with small chances of improving their conditions of living Gedeshi I., Sabates-Wheeler R., Poverty, Vulnerability and Migration during transition in Albania, Working Paper, De Soto H., Gordon P., Gedeshi I., Sinoimeri Z., Poverty in Albania. A Qualitative Assessment, The World Bank Washington D.C., De Rapper G., Deslondes O., Roux M., Dimanche a Miras, lundi a Dipotamia. La frontiere Albano-Grecque dans la region de Bilisht et de Castoria, Cahiers d etudes sur la Mediterranee orientale et le monde turco-iranien, N. 29, janvier-juin De Soto H., Beddies S., Gedeshi I., Roma and Egyptians in Albania: From social exclusion to social inclusion, The World Bank, Washington D.C., Arrehag L., Sjoberg O., Sjobolm M., Cross-Border Migration and Remittances in a Post-Communist Society: Return Flows of Money and Goods in the Korça District, Albania. South Eastern Europe Journal of Economics I (2005)

21 However, poor families do not only lack in financial capital; they are also short of human and social capital. Poverty is often multidimensional. A villager from Bushat (Shkodra) confirms: In our village there are many poor families that cannot afford even their children s clothes. They have just enough income for a piece of bread. However, they cannot emigrate. We have for instance a family that has come from a remote mountainous village where the head of the family lives alone with his little children. Where is he supposed to leave his kids if he emigrates? This is why he earns his living by selling fire wood and uses some mules for their transport. He is a good, hard-working man, but he has no possibilities to emigrate. There are many families like this in our village. Other families do not have young members that can afford the difficult conditions of emigration. Furthermore, household interviews show that the education level of the population that cannot emigrate is lower compared to short-term and long-term emigrants. Consequently, for many of them it is harder to emigrate and to integrate themselves in the host country. A teacher from Vau i Dejës (Shkodra) says: Usually, those who emigrate escape from poverty. However, there are also people with a narrow horizon without information and who cannot be orientated. These people do not dare to emigrate. Government policies towards emigration have aimed at promoting legal channels of emigration from Albania, especially to Western countries 35. For this reason, the Albanian government has signed bilateral agreements with some Western European countries such as Germany (1991), Italy (1996), and Greece (1997), to encourage regular employment of Albanians in those countries 36. Nevertheless, these bilateral agreements have given limited results. Meanwhile, since 1998, along with the bilateral agreements, the Albanian government has licensed a number of private agencies that offer assistance in regular emigration and employment of Albanians abroad 37. Until 2006, around 17 such agencies have been licensed from the Ministry of Labor Social Affairs and Equal Chances 38. One of the most successful agencies is La Speranza which has made possible the regular emigration of around 100 nurses from Albania to Italy. However, there appears to be a lack of awareness and information about these institutions., The majority of the respondents that wish to emigrate, around 72 percent, respond that that they are not aware of any official programme or of the existence of different private employment agencies that make possible legal emigration and legal employment abroad. Meanwhile a group of around 14 percent of the respondents state that they are aware of only the employment schemes of different private employment agencies National Strategy on Migration and the National Action Plan on Migration, Tirana, July, Ibid 37 Ibid 38 Ministry of Labor and Equal chances, 2007

22 Of those respondents who are aware of programmes which assist in legal migration and in finding employment abroad, around 30 percent respond that they would use only private employment agencies, around 24 percent respond that they would use only government agencies, and around 23 percent respond that they may use both forms. Around 23 percent of the respondents say that they would not use any of these schemes. Table 11. Do you think to participate in those programmes or to use those agencies? No Number of In percentage Would you consider participating respondents in those programmes or to use those agencies? 1 Yes, only government agencies Yes, only on private agencies In both No Total The main motivations of respondents to emigrate are the improvement of living standards (38.4 percent), unemployment (16.6 percent), lack of job satisfaction (13.3 percent), or having relatives abroad (20.5 percent). Almost 10 percent of the respondents, mainly young students, express the desire for education as a motivation for migration. Most of the respondents or around 83.2 percent respond that they wish to emigrate only in legal ways. This desire is higher for females (89.7 percent), than for males (75 percent). Others state that they don t exclude other ways (7.8 percent)or that they would use any way to leave (7.4 percent). A very small part of the respondents (around 1.6 percent) state that they cannot evaluate the question. 21

23 Table 12. In what way do you think you will emigrate from Albania? No How do you think to emigrate Number of In percentage respondents 1 Only in regular ways Does not exclude other ways Would use any way to leave Cannot evaluate Total Italy is the most preferred destination to which to emigrate, with around 43 percent of the respondents who wish to emigrate choosing Italy as their destination. The second mostpreferred host-country comes the UK, third is the USA with about 13 percent, and the fourth destination is Greece with around 8 percent. A smaller number of respondents answer that they want to emigrate to France, Germany, and Spain. The preferred host-country differs by region. The respondents of Durrës (around 56 percent), Elbasan (53 percent), and Vlora (28 percent) prefer mostly Italy. The respondents from the North-East areas of the country including: Dibra (53 percent) and Kukës (29 percent) primarily prefer England. This is explained by the social networks they have created in these countries. According to the interviews, many of the respondents have family members, relatives and friends in these countries. Through them, they receive information and have a greater chance of finding accommodation and jobs. Graph 6: The desire to migrate according to the destination country Most of the respondents consider emigrating, around 51 percent say that they will make their emigration decision after consulting with other people. However there is another large group, around 40 percent, who state that the decision to emigrate will be taken entirely by them. In this group a higher percentage of the respondents are males (57 percent) compared to females (27 percent). Only around 4 percent of the respondents state that the decision to emigrate will be taken entirely by others. 22

24 Most of the influence from the category that does not take the decision to emigrate entirely by them is played by the parents (around 89 percent) and husband/wife (around 7 percent). Sisters/brothers and friends have a small impact. The great role of the parents is explained also by the fact that most of the respondents are young students. This finding shows that in the future the sensibility and the awareness of the parents about illegal migration must be increased. Table 14. Who may influence your decision? Nr Influence Number of respondents In percentage 1 Parents Husband/Wife Sisters/Brothers Parents of Husband/Wife Friends Total In the emigration process the information people possess about the emigration country plays an important role. According to the survey around 56 percent of the respondents answered that they have sufficient information about the country to which they wish to emigrate. The main sources of information are family/friends in the host country (around 70 percent), internet (around 35 percent), TV/radio (28 percent), Family/friends in Albania (19 percent), magazines/newspapers/books (19 percent), and has been there before (around 14 percent). The most important information sources are family/friends that are in that country (45 percent), Internet (around 45 percent) and TV/Radio (around 13 percent). 23

25 Table 16. Most useful information source No Most useful source Number of respondents In percentage 1 Has been there before Family/friends that have been there Family/friends in Albania TV/radio Internet Magazines/newspapers/books Schools/universities Agencies/institutions in that country Agencies/institutions in Albania IOM Other Total Most of the respondents, around 81 percent, stated that they wished to have more information about the emigration country. The sources to which they access are Family/friends that have been there, Internet, TV/Radio, and Magazines/newspapers/books In the future, IOM, while developing new and efficient forms of communication, should also develop important and specialized information sources about key destination countries, their legislation and regulations. Table 17. Will you take more information about the emigration country? No More information Number of respondents In percentage 1 Yes No Total Illegal emigration and trafficking in human beings Two important documents of the Albanian government the National Strategy on Migration and the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings emphasize the importance of awareness and the education of the public regarding trafficking in human beings. The activities of IOM through this project aimed to achieve that objective. Box 3 In an interview, Ms. Iva Zajmi, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Interior states: Many youth that are under a lot of psychological pressure about their future consider illegal emigration from the country. They ask: What will the future look like? Will they be able to find a job? Will they have a normal life in their country? Otherwise, their only alternative must be emigration no matter whether this is regular or not. It is the government s duty to ensure its citizens, and to guarantee them a better future. Many measures are being taken in this regard in Albania... But before this step, the government must inform and increase the citizen s awareness for the risk that comes from such hopeless choices. 24