FLASH NEWS
After 18 days of resistance, the first victory comes: Europe sides with the protesters for Vjosa-Narta! Demands the repeal of law 21/2024
2026-06-17 14:58:10 / POLITIKË
Today, the European Parliament adopted its resolution on the Commission’s 2025 Report on Albania, expressing serious concerns about ongoing developments within the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area and saying that the rule of law and EU environmental standards are non-negotiable conditions for membership. The resolution calls for the repeal of Albania’s 2024 amendments to the Law on Protected Areas, legislation that has enabled the destruction of one of the Mediterranean’s most extraordinary natural sites and sparked the biggest street protests Albania has seen in a generation.
It also calls for an “immediate moratorium on new permitting procedures, construction works and development interventions within protected areas until the incompatible provisions of Albania’s amended Law on Protected Areas are repealed and full compliance with EU standards for nature protection is ensured.”
More than 100,000 Albanians have taken to the streets over the past 18 days in what has become known globally as the 'Flamingo Revolution' - a popular uprising against the illegal logging of forests, ancient dunes and protected habitats in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape.
The adopted resolution specifically calls for the repeal of the 2024 amendments to the Law on Protected Areas, which allow large-scale tourist infrastructure within protected areas and remove key environmental oversight mechanisms. MEPs also expressed deep concern about Albania’s Law on Strategic Investments, whose fast-track permitting procedures risk bypassing environmental screening in sensitive areas.
The result of today's vote is in stark contrast to the European Commission's response to the illegalities. On 15 June, Commissioner Kos stated that the Commission had received guarantees from the Albanian government that an environmental impact assessment would be carried out, ignoring the fact that the illegal works have already taken place, without a permit, without transparency and without an environmental impact assessment. Parliament has shown more commitment than the Commission to protecting EU law.
The Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape is part of the last intact delta system in the Mediterranean. It is home to over 200 bird species and more than 70 endangered species, is located on one of Europe's most critical migratory corridors and provides essential habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal and the loggerhead sea turtle - species that EU member states, including Greece, Italy and Croatia, have legal obligations to protect. What happens here does not stop in Albania.
Since early May 2026, construction has continued within the protected area without any published project, environmental impact assessment, public consultation or valid permits – in direct violation of Albania’s accession commitments under the environmental acquis and Group 1 on the rule of law. This comes in addition to the illegal construction of Vlora International Airport in the same area, which began in November 2021.
Joni Vorpsi, Director of Policy and Advocacy, PPNEA:
“The European Parliament’s call for an immediate moratorium is exactly what is needed in our fight to protect Vjosa-Narta. It gives the Albanian authorities the time and clarity to adapt to EU standards for nature protection and to avoid irreversible mistakes that would hinder Albania’s path to the EU. We want Albania in the European family and precisely for this reason we cannot afford this mistake.”
Anouk Puymartin, Policy Director, BirdLife Europe:
“Today, the European Parliament stood by thousands of Albanians on the streets of Tirana. This vote sends a clear message that you cannot join the EU while you bulldoze protected wetlands and ignore your own laws. Protecting the Vjosa-Narta and respecting the Birds and Habitats Directives are a fundamental condition for EU membership. The Albanians protesting in Tirana already knew that protecting nature and protecting democracy are the same fight. Today, the European Parliament said so too.”
There are growing concerns that other Western Balkan countries that are joining are following suit and considering similar legislation. Today's vote makes it clear that such a path is incompatible with EU membership./ Adapted in Albanian Alfapress.al
Happening now...
Attacks on Dumani and Berisha's silence on Ilir Shtufi
Nga Bato Kosova
ideas
The Alliance of Seals and Towers, facing the New Republic
Nga Azgan Haklaj
The beginning of the end of power in Albania...
Nga Veton Surroi
The ridiculous coherence of the opposition!
Nga Alfapress.al
top
Alfa recipes
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128