In response to 11 left-wing MEPs, the European Commission says Albania must repeal changes to the law on protected areas and complete the 2015 law on strategic investments.
MEPs Emma Fourreau, Marc Botenga, Danilo Della Valle, Sebastian Everding, Hanna Gedin, Anja Hazekamp, Marina Mesure, Arash Saeidi, Ilaria Salis, Jonas Sjöstedt and Anthony Smith asked the European Commission to comment on tourism projects in Sazan and the Vjosa-Nartë protected area, which they say are financed by Jared Kushner’s investment fund.
“How does the Commission assess the compatibility of real estate investments linked to the family of a head of state outside the EU with the standards of transparency and good governance expected of countries aiming for EU membership?” was one of the questions addressed to the European Commission by left-wing MEPs.
In her response, Marta Kos does not provide a specific assessment of investments related to the Trump family, but emphasizes that foreign investments can bring benefits, provided they are transparent and in compliance with national and EU rules.
Commissioner Kos’s response once again reinforces the position that Albania must meet the criteria for closing Chapter 27, the environment chapter, by repealing the amendments to the law on protected areas in 2024 and the law on strategic investments.
“The conditions for closing the chapter clearly require Albania to comply with the EU acquis on nature protection, including the repeal of incompatible provisions introduced through amendments to the Law on Protected Areas and the completion of the 2015 legislation on strategic investments,” the response to MEPs states.
According to the European Commission, Albania needs to approximate its legislation with the EU environmental acquis, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, the Birds Directive, and the Habitats Directive.
“Albania must demonstrate sufficient capacity for the management of future Natura 2000 areas and ensure effective measures for their conservation, preventing the deterioration of habitats and the status of species,” the response provided by Commissioner Marta Kos further states.
In a question to the Commission, MEPs raised concerns that tourism developments could endanger coastal and marine ecosystems, biodiversity and the habitats of threatened species.
They also pointed out that Sazan is located within the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park, which has been designated as a Protected Area of Special Importance for the Mediterranean (SPAMI).
In response, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated that the European Commission is closely following the project in the Pishë Poro-Nartë area.
“This project, like all projects under development in Albania, will have to meet the conditions set out in Chapter 27,” the response to MEPs further states.
According to Kos, the Albanian government has assured the Commission that a Full Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out and that European environmental standards will be respected, and that the Commission has encouraged the Albanian authorities to continue to take steps in support of fulfilling the conditions for closing the chapter and advancing on their path towards the EU.
“The Commission will closely monitor the fulfillment of these conditions,” the European Commission’s response concludes.
In their letter, the 11 MEPs from the left group linked the development of tourism projects in Sazan and Vjosa-Narta to a broader debate on the protection of Albania’s natural resources.
They argued that demonstrations against the projects reflect concerns that Albania’s territory is being developed in favor of the private interests of very wealthy investors.
According to them, hotel projects pose a risk to coastal and marine ecosystems, biodiversity and habitats of threatened species./Citizens.al