Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed to push forward with a controversial luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, dismissing mounting protests and a formal warning from the European Commission. The development, planned for a sensitive coastal area and a former military island, has sparked the 'Flamingo Revolution' demonstrations and raised questions about Tirana's EU accession path.

The project's scope and origins

The initiative comprises two large-scale tourism developments in southern Albania. The first is a resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan, a former communist-era military base, valued at approximately 1.4 billion euros. The second, much larger project, involves the urbanization of an area near the Vjosa-Narta lagoon, a protected natural area close to the town of Zvernec. This development exceeds 4 billion euros in planned investment and includes hotels, villas, luxury apartments, and a yacht marina. The projects are linked to Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, as well as Qatari business partners.

Rama recounted the project's genesis as serendipitous. He described a dinner in southern Albania with Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and friends who had stopped in Durres en route to Montenegro. Months later, Kushner reportedly approached him at a gathering in Davos, Switzerland. Rama recalled Kushner telling him, "Your country's absolutely stunning, and we would like to look for a chance to invest." Ivanka Trump separately related that the family discovered Sazan island by chance during a boat excursion, swimming to shore and hiking to one of its highest points.

Environmental backlash and the 'Flamingo Revolution'

The protests have been dubbed the 'Flamingo Revolution' because the stretch of coast in question is a stopover point for migrating flamingos. The Vjosa-Narta lagoon constitutes one of Albania's most biodiverse areas and forms part of a major bird migration route in the Adriatic. Environmental groups are sounding alarms over the destruction of long-preserved habitats, particularly as excavators and heavy machinery have been observed clearing land among pine trees and installing fencing in the nature reserve since late May. Critics point out that land clearing has already commenced within a nature reserve, even though the prime minister admits a formal environmental impact assessment has not yet begun.

When questioned about potentially withdrawing from the project, Rama defiantly responded, "Step back from what?" He characterized environmental concerns as "misinformation," asserting that the development would elevate Albania from an overlooked country to one attracting "big capital" and significant investment.

Brussels issues a warning

The European Commission has urged Albania to act without delay to ensure its alignment with EU environmental legislation if Tirana wishes to continue its accession process. A Commission spokesperson, Guillaume Mercier, stated that Albania must refrain from actions that could compromise the fulfillment of the closing benchmark. "We are in contact with the Albanian authorities on this issue," Mercier added. The EU has indicated it could admit new members, including Montenegro, Albania, and Ukraine, by 2030, but this depends on alignment with current EU laws, including on environmental matters.

Rama pushed back against the Commission's concerns. "We are very proud of what we have done for wildlife in Albania. The European Commission has no reason to doubt our firm will to protect whatever needs to be protected regarding wildlife and nature," he said. The prime minister also noted that the government's 2024 amendments to the law on protected areas and the law on strategic investments have come under EU scrutiny. He stated the strategic investments law would be allowed to lapse, saying it had "fulfilled its mission," while defending its role in attracting capital.

Investigations and political fallout

Albania's anti-corruption agency has launched an investigation into the project, with rival claims emerging over the privatization of the land, which the government maintains is privately owned. The protests have evolved into a broader demonstration against Rama's 13 years in power. In a tense two-hour exchange with a group of European media journalists, the prime minister defended his record and expressed "frustration" with the dominant narrative accusing him of compromising on environmental standards to attract foreign investment.

Rama insisted that no operation damaging the environment can be carried out because it must respect European standards. "Today in the tourism sector, to be competitive you cannot neglect nature. That is why I get angry when I see people who do not understand that bringing 4 billion euros to Albania and creating something extraordinary, based precisely on nature as a founding element, is a positive thing," he argued. Affinity Partners did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.