EU warns Albania that Kushner-linked resort could jeopardise accession talks

The European Commission warned Albania that a proposed luxury resort on the southern coast, associated with former U.S. president Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law, could conflict with EU environmental standards and delay the closure of Chapter 27 in its accession negotiations.

Commission officials said Albania must avoid actions that undermine the required benchmarks and urged the government to act promptly, including repealing recent amendments to the Law on Protected Areas and terminating the law on strategic investments.

Albania’s environment minister, Sofjan Jaupaj, told Brussels that construction on the site has been halted and that an environmental impact assessment will be conducted with civil‑society input, the commission said.

Protests entered a seventh day, with demonstrators demanding the project’s cancellation over concerns it threatens a protected wildlife zone home to flamingos, seals and turtle nesting sites. The anti‑corruption prosecutor has opened an investigation into the changes to the area’s protected status and land ownership.

Prime Minister Edi Rama told reporters that EU leaders are not focused on the unrest, adding that the project would attract little attention if not linked to Jared Kushner.

Albania, a leading candidate for EU membership alongside Montenegro, aims to join the bloc by 2030, with technical negotiations slated to conclude by the end of 2027.