Protests over a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner have gripped Albania for 18 consecutive days, and they are no longer just about the project. What started as a Flamingo Revolution has grown into a leaderless revolt against the entire political establishment.
What began as local opposition to the controversial Zvërnec resort has since spilled over into anger over schools, hospitals, pensions, and the cost of living. At the European Commission’s midday briefing, EU Perspectives asked whether Brussels had raised those wider concerns with Prime Minister Edi Rama, not just the environmental damage.
The question touched on the realities many Albanians face: pensions of around €170 a month and rents in parts of the country comparable to Brussels. The Commission did not say whether it had raised those concerns with Rama. It said only that Brussels remains in “continuous contact” with Albanian authorities.
An EU frontrunner under pressure
The Commission described Albania as “one of the front runners” in the enlargement process and said the country had made important progress in environmental protection. Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said the progress was “valuable and should be acknowledged and protected.”
Brussels stressed it prefers to work on the basis of facts. The Commission said the Pishë-Poro-Narta project, like all others in Albania, must comply with Chapter 27 of the accession negotiations on environmental policy. Lammert said the situation must be clarified before the chapter closes. Albania aims to close it by the end of 2027.
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Brussels treads carefully
The Commission said the Albanian government had promised to carry out a full environmental impact assessment and respect European standards. It called on Albanian authorities to continue fulfilling the remaining closing benchmarks and to press ahead with their EU accession bid.
Brussels also praised Albanian authorities and state police for allowing the demonstrations to take place peacefully. “Peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental democratic rights and core European values,” Mr Lammert said.
EU Perspectives also asked about SPAK, Albania’s Special Prosecution against Organised Crime and Corruption, and its investigation into the Zvërnec area. The questions touched on allegations of forged land documents and organised crime money from Latin America, including Ecuador, flowing into resort investments. The Commission declined to comment on the substance of the investigation.
The Albanian government has assured the European Commission that the controversial project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, will comply with environmental law, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said at a press conference on Monday.
Flamingo Revolution turns political
The luxury tourism project, estimated at over €1.4 billion, would affect an ecologically protected wetland on the Adriatic coast. Protests erupted on 23 May, after private security guards clashed with local residents and environmental activists near the site. What started as a localised dispute over land and flamingo habitats quickly acquired a name: the Flamingo Revolution. Since then, demonstrators are also chanting about hospitals, pensions, wages, rents, and corruption.
Last week, the EU executive expressed concerns about the project. Commission enlargement spokesman Guillaume Mercier warned that Albanian authorities should act “without delay” to avoid jeopardising the country’s EU accession bid.
Peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental democratic rights and core European values. — Markus Lammert, spokesperson, European Commission
Those comments drew irritation from Tirana, as they appeared to suggest the Commission had already drawn its conclusions while Albania’s environmental assessment is still under way. Enlargement Commissioner Kos subsequently struck a more conciliatory tone, welcoming the right to protest as a fundamental liberty for the EU and all aspiring members.
Brussels still regards Albania as a candidate for EU membership. But the Zvërnec case has forced it to grapple with environmental standards, rule of law, citizens’ trust, and social frustration all at once. The protests have no leader. Families with children march alongside environmental activists, chanting “Rama n’burg, Berisha n’burg” — calling for both Prime Minister Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party to face justice. On day 18, the message is simple: Albania is not for sale.
