EU Warns Albania Over Jared Kushner's Tourism Project Threatening EU Accession

The European Parliament has issued a warning to Albania regarding a tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, stating that proceeding with the plan amounts to "playing with fire" and endangers the country's negotiations to join the European Union. This caution was delivered by Tineke Strik, head of the European fact-finding mission to Albania, who emphasized the environmental risks posed by the development.

Strik described the €1.4 billion project as a threat that could cause extensive environmental damage, particularly to the pristine coastal areas of the Zvërnik Peninsula and Sazan Island, both of which enjoy environmental protection. She highlighted that advancing the real estate development in these regions would have severe ecological consequences.

In an interview with The Guardian, Strik stated, "If Prime Minister Edi Rama is genuinely committed to his European ambitions, he must immediately reverse course and tell the Kushner clan: 'Sorry, the European Union is my first priority.'"

These warnings come amid unprecedented popular protests in Albania, known in the media as the "Flamingo Revolution," where thousands have taken to the streets demanding the cancellation of the project and the resignation of the prime minister. Protesters have accused the government of a lack of transparency and corruption in granting construction permits.

Public opinion polls indicate a historically high level of support for EU membership in Albania, estimated at 92%, the highest since the fall of communism three decades ago.

Prime Minister Rama has pledged to conclude accession negotiations by December 2027, a timeline European officials have described as ambitious but welcomed.