Albania Accused of Fast-Tracking Kushner-Backed Resort on Sazan Island and Vjosa-Narta Wetland

Tineke Strik, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, has accused Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, of employing "sneaky and disloyal" methods to promote a luxury resort project supported by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. This initiative aims to complete its processes before EU environmental regulations come into effect. The development encompasses thousands of villas situated in ecologically delicate regions, such as Sazan Island and the Vjosa-Narta wetland. Kushner announced the project in 2024, while Ivanka Trump referred to it as "almost daunting" in May. In June, the European Parliament called for the repeal of a law enabling "strategic investors" in protected areas. Protests related to the Flamingo Revolution have intensified, with Strik cautioning that Rama is prioritizing Kushner's interests over environmental concerns, risking Albania's EU membership by 2030.