A delegation of MEPs from the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament will visit Albania from June 29 to July 1, focusing on the situation in the Vjosa-Narte protected area and the citizen protests against the Rama government.
The visit comes immediately after the European Parliament adopted its report on Albania, where in addition to progress on the path towards membership in the European Union, the need to strengthen environmental protection, transparency, the rule of law and the fight against corruption was also emphasized.
Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, rapporteur for the Albania report, stated that the European integration process must go hand in hand with respecting environmental standards and protecting sensitive natural areas.
According to her, the report includes a direct call to the Albanian authorities to immediately stop new interventions in protected areas until Albanian legislation is fully harmonized with European environmental standards.
Strik also referred to the protests held against projects affecting the Vjosa-Narta area, emphasizing that Albanian citizens are giving a clear message in defense of nature and the country’s European future.
“The future of Albania will be decided by its citizens and not by the interests of American billionaires close to Donald Trump,” the MEP declared, adding that economic development should not come at the expense of biodiversity and local communities.
According to foreign reports , the Greens/EFA delegation will be led by Tineke Strik and will include MEPs Cristina Guarda, Vicent Marzà i Ibáñez, Daniel Freund, Jutta Paulus and Anna Strolenberg. During their stay in Albania, they are expected to hold meetings with government representatives, environmental activists and residents of areas affected by the projects that have sparked debate and protests in the country.