EU Pressures Albania Over Kushner Resort Environmental Compliance
The European Commission has urged Albania to ensure compliance with EU environmental legislation regarding a planned luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on the Albanian coast. The project has sparked protests dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution" due to concerns about impact on migratory bird populations and broader environmental issues. EU membership prospects for Albania by 2030 depend partly on alignment with environmental laws, making the dispute significant for the country's accession timeline.
The European Commission has formally pressed Albania to act quickly to align with EU environmental laws in connection with a luxury resort project backed by U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and his daughter Ivanka Trump. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Monday that Albania will proceed with the resort despite environmental protests centered on the site's importance as a migratory stopover for flamingos. The protests, termed the "Flamingo Revolution," have expanded into broader criticism of Rama's 13-year tenure. EU Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier stated that Albania should refrain from actions undermining compliance with closing benchmarks and that authorities must act without delay. Rama has downplayed environmental concerns and pledged that an environmental impact assessment will be completed, asserting Albania's commitment to wildlife protection. The EU has indicated it could admit new members including Albania, Montenegro, and Ukraine by 2030, contingent on alignment with EU laws including environmental standards.
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Brussels presses Albania as Kushner resort threatens to flout EU environmental law
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