Details
- Thousands of protesters gathered in Tirana, the Capital against the luxury resort project, chanting “Albania is not for sale” and calling for the development to be stopped.
- The proposed resort is backed by Affinity Partners, the investment firm of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and is planned near the Vjosa-Narta protected area on Albania’s southern coast.
- The project has been reported at about €1.4bn, while developers have described the wider plan as potentially exceeding €4bn and creating more than 10,000 jobs.
- The protected area includes lagoons, wetlands, pine forests and sand dunes, and is an important habitat for flamingos, seals, sea turtles and more than 200 bird species.
- Protests escalated after groundwork began near the site, with heavy machinery, new fencing and private security guards appearing in the area.
- Videos shared online showed protesters being forcibly removed from the site, fuelling wider anger over the project and the way it is being handled.
- Activists and conservation groups say there has been a lack of transparency around permits, environmental documents and public consultation.
- Rama has defended the investment as part of Albania’s push into high-end tourism, saying the country must enter the “Champions League of Global tourism.” He condemned the conduct of private guards but said he had no intention of abandoning the development.
- Albania’s Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said environmental impact assessments are being prepared and that the project must comply with Albanian and EU environmental law.
- The European Commission said it is closely following developments. The area has been proposed for the Emerald Network and is expected to become part of Natura 2000 if Albania joins the EU, making the dispute a test of the country’s environmental obligations.
- Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecution body, SPAK, has opened an inquiry into controversial legal changes concerning protected areas.
What Else
The project has become a wider test of how Albania balances foreign investment, tourism ambitions and environmental protection as it seeks closer ties with the European Union. The next pressure point is whether environmental permits, public consultation and legal reviews allow the resort to move forward despite growing public opposition.
