The European Commission issued a stern warning to Albania, emphasizing that government handling of the controversial tourism project by Jared Kushner could irreparably damage the country’s accession path to the European Union. The Brussels intervention comes during a period of intense domestic political pressure and social unrest, as the neighboring country is shaken by massive national protests against the specific investment planned for its southern coasts.
The citizen mobilizations completed their seventh consecutive day on Sunday, with Albanians demanding immediate cancellation of the luxury resort connected to American President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Protesters and environmental organizations emphasize that the construction project directly threatens a sensitive and protected wildlife area, which serves as a refuge for flamingos, Mediterranean seals, and important nesting sites for sea turtles.
European “brake” on Albania over Kushner project: On collision course with Brussels
The Commission warns that the project could put Albania on a collision course with EU environmental rules, jeopardizing its ability to close the green Chapter 27 in its accession negotiations.
“Albania should refrain from actions that could undermine fulfillment of the assessment criteria for closing [the chapter] and we expect Albanian authorities to act without delay,” a European Commission spokesperson told POLITICO, responding to a question about the controversial proposed development.
“In the EU accession process, as part of the assessment criteria for closing negotiations on Chapter 27 regarding environment and climate change, Albania is expected to fully harmonize with EU legislation in this area, including the Birds and Habitats Directives,” the spokesperson said, urging Albania to revoke amendments to the Protected Areas Law and “terminate” the strategic investments law. As part of the EU accession process, Albania is expected to align with EU environmental rules.
The spokesperson also told POLITICO that Albania’s Environment Minister Sofian Yaupaї informed the Commission in Brussels that construction work on the project has been suspended and that an environmental impact assessment will be conducted in cooperation with civil society.
“We have already expressed our concerns to the Environment Minister regarding the potential shortcomings of this project,” the spokesperson said.
Yaupaї did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
“Flamingo Revolution”
Named the “Flamingo Revolution” after the flamingos living in the protected area, protests intensified during the weekend, with increasing calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, SPAK, also launched an investigation into the controversial changes to the area’s protection status and land ownership regime in 2024.
“We note that the project is also subject to ongoing SPAK investigations, which according to information extend beyond environmental concerns,” the spokesperson said.
Rama recently told POLITICO that there is no great interest from EU leaders in Albania’s political turmoil at this time. In an interview on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Montenegro on June 5, Rama also argued that “if it wasn’t Jared, they wouldn’t give a damn” about the project.
Albanians in New York, London, Brussels, Milan and Berlin, as well as other Albanian cities, joined calls to cancel the project and prevent Albania’s nature from falling victim to uncontrolled tourism.
Albania is a frontrunner for EU membership along with Montenegro, and Rama has set a goal of joining the bloc by 2030, with technical negotiations to be completed by late 2027.
This scrutiny arises from changes Albania made in 2024 to its Protected Areas law, which critics say opened the door for large-scale development projects in sensitive wildlife areas. This includes the Vjosa-Narta protected area, where the Kushner-linked project is located and for which no environmental impact assessment exists.
Brussels has also long pressured Tirana to abolish the 2015 Strategic Investments law, as it provides favored projects with fast-track procedures, risking bypassing EU environmental safeguards.
