During his visit in Athens, Minister Bushati held meeting and talked with representatives of associations of our conationals who live and work in the neighboring country.

Minister Bushati attended the presentation of the Online Consular Service (SHKO) platform, as part of the diplomatic commitment on responding to the needs of the large number of Albanians in Greece, and wherever they are in the world, with a modern consular service. This platform fulfills the priority of the Albanian Government to increase transparency and modernization of consular and other public administration services.

Online Consular Service not only increases and has modernized public access to information, expands the range of services, improves quality, facilitates procedures, but it also reduces time and abuses and increases transparency aa well. The project has radically reformed consular service for the Albanians around the world, by establishing 36 special services, according to the best and most modern European practices from which 23 services can be conducted entirely online, whereas 13 other services require once only citizen's presence at the Diplomatic and Consular missions.

For the first time since 1998, we have completely revised fees for consular services. Some services are offered free of charge and others on a reduced rate. We have halved the fee for double certificate issue and have decreased by 25% legalization fees.

Focusing on expansion of online consular services especially the establishment of the Apostille regime with other countries as well, Minister Bushati underscored: “We look forward that Greece, the only country in the EU that has not joined this practice, should follow the example of other countries, as a clear signal of commitment to international law and widely-accepted standards in this field”.

Minister Bushati also highlighted the importance of the Online Consular Service in the registration process of Albanian citizens living abroad which would be followed by the opportunity to vote.