Edi Rama said Albania will press ahead with the €1.4 billion Adriatic resort tied to Jared Kushner, despite mounting demonstrations over its planned site near the Vjosa-Narta protected area.
Thousands have protested in Tirana and on the southern coast, saying the project threatens a wetland that hosts flamingoes, seals and sea turtle nesting sites; the flamingo has become the movement's symbol.
Rama dismissed critics, said the developers would soon unveil plans that would "stun" onlookers, and argued parts of the resort could open before 2030 as Albania modernises.
An environmental impact assessment has still not been completed and will run in parallel with development, while Rama promised wildlife protections after conceding barbed-wire fencing at the site was a "disgraceful idea."
The Kushner-linked project near Vjosa-Narta and a second one on Sazan Island are worth up to €5 billion combined, underscoring the political and environmental stakes for Albania's EU-facing development push.
Will a billion-euro coastal resort secure Albania's future or sacrifice its environment and EU ambitions?
Can a luxury resort in a vital flamingo habitat truly be a model for Albania's modernization?
Albania’s $1 Billion Kushner Resort: Environmental Protests, EU Accession Risks, and Corruption Fears
Overview
The proposed luxury resort project in Albania, linked to Jared Kushner, has sparked widespread public protests and intense international scrutiny. Conservationists and citizens have rallied against the development, demanding transparency and protection for Albania’s wild coastline. The European Union has voiced strong concerns about the project’s environmental impact and its effect on Albania’s EU membership hopes, closely monitoring the situation and warning about the need for compliance with European standards. This growing opposition highlights the tension between economic ambitions and environmental protection, placing Albania’s future direction and EU aspirations under the spotlight.