2025 Commission report on Albania

Tabled by Tineke Strik, Thomas Waitz, Cristina Guarda, Vladimir Prebilič, Jutta Paulus, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Benedetta Scuderi, Daniel Freund, Kai Tegethoff, Nela Riehl, Damian Boeselager, Anna Strolenberg, Reinier Van Lanschot

Added: 46a. Expresses serious concern that ongoing developments within the Vjosa-Narta protected area demonstrate the practical consequences of these legislative changes and the resulting risks to areas of recognised ecological value; closely follows the ongoing peaceful mass protests in this regard; calls on the Albanian authorities to immediately establish a moratorium on all new permitting procedures, construction works and development interventions within protected areas until the incompatible provisions of the amended Law on Protected Areas have been repealed, on the basis of a long-standing request by the Commission and Parliament and in line with the closing benchmarks of Chapter 27, and until full compliance with EU nature protection standards has been ensured; underlines that any projects in this area need to undergo comprehensive environmental impact assessments fully in line with EU standards, including a transparent public participation process with local communities, scientists and civil society;

Wording as published by the EP, in English. PE783.321