Albania’s ambitious plans to join the European Union by 2030 have encountered a serious obstacle. The European Commission has warned the country’s authorities that the implementation of a major tourism project connected to Jared Kushner — son-in-law of US President Donald Trump — could violate EU environmental norms and block negotiations on a key chapter.
The project involves the construction of luxury resorts on Sazan Island (Sazan) and in the coastal area of Zvërnec in southern Albania. Affinity Partners, the investment company led by Kushner, plans to invest more than $5–6 billion (including partnerships with funds from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar). The projects were granted “strategic investor” status by the Albanian government in late 2024 – early 2025.
Environmentalists and residents are sounding the alarm: the construction threatens protected areas, including the Vjosa-Narta Lagoon — a critical habitat for pink flamingos, Mediterranean monk seals, sea turtles, and other rare species. These sites are part of the Emerald Network and are expected to become part of the Natura 2000 network after Albania joins the EU.
Since the end of May, mass protests have been taking place in Tirana and other cities under the slogan “Albania is not for sale!” Thousands of people have taken to the streets, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and prioritizing foreign investors at the expense of nature and national interests. Police have repeatedly used force to disperse the demonstrations.
Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutor’s office (SPAK) has launched an investigation into the project, including possible land fraud. Some assets of the developers have been frozen.
The European Commission has responded firmly. In Brussels, officials stated that Albania risks failing to meet the criteria under Chapter 27 (Environment) of the accession negotiations. “Albania must refrain from actions that could undermine the fulfilment of the benchmarks,” the Commission emphasized. Closing this chapter is critical for completing the negotiations, which Tirana hopes to finalize as early as 2027.
Prime Minister Edi Rama is defending the project, calling it “transformative” for the country’s tourism and economy. He stated that without Kushner’s involvement, Europe would have no objections and promised to continue working on the investments.
The situation adds tension to the already complex process of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. Against the backdrop of the summit in Montenegro on enlargement issues, analysts note that environmental and anti-corruption standards remain among the main barriers for Albania.
It remains unclear whether the government will make concessions to protesters and the EU or continue with the controversial project. Much will depend on this decision — whether Albania’s dream of European Union membership remains a realistic prospect in the coming years.