From an Adriatic lagoon to the chambers of the European Parliament. The Vjosa-Narta case—which has been at the center of weeks of protests that have mobilized thousands of Albanian citizens— has reached Strasbourg, where the European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for an immediate moratorium on new projects in the country’s protected areas.
In its vote on June 17, the European Parliament explicitly linked the protection of protected areas to Albania’s path toward accession to the European Union, and also called for the repeal of the amendments introduced in 2024 to the national law on protected areas, which are considered incompatible with EU standards because they allow for development activities and tourism infrastructure within areas that should be subject to special forms of protection.
Vjosa-Narta: Much More Than Just a Lagoon
To understand the significance of this issue, one must consider the value of the affected area. The Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape is one of the most important coastal ecosystems in the Balkans. Located along one of the main migratory routes between Europe and Africa, it is home to over 200 bird species and more than 70 endangered species.
Its lagoons, coastal dunes, and wetlands provide essential habitats for numerous species of Community interest, including the greater flamingo, which has become a symbol of protest. The area is also a candidate for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network once Albania’s accession to the European Union is complete. According to environmental organizations, preliminary work and interventions in recent months have affected areas of high ecological value, fueling fears of possible irreversible damage to an ecosystem already under severe pressure.
The protests
In Albania, the Vjosa-Narta case has quickly become a political and civil issue. For over two weeks, demonstrations, marches, and public events have drawn citizens, associations, and environmental groups from across the country. The protests have also found support among the Albanian diaspora, with events organized in various European and North American countries.
As Aleksandër Trajçe, executive directorof the environmental organization PPNEA, stated, the debate over Vjosa-Narta “goes far beyond mere environmental protection and has become part of a broader European discussion on the rule of law, democratic participation, transparency, and the credibility of the enlargement process”. In other words, the issue raised by the protesters concerns the preservation of a lagoon as well as compliance with environmental procedures and citizens’ right to participate in decisions affecting their local area.
The message sent from Strasbourg
The European Parliament’s vote introduces a political element that Tirana will find difficult to ignore. The European Parliament emphasizes that the path to accession requires tangible results in the implementation of environmental legislation, in impact assessments, and in public participation in decision-making processes.
“Nature, public participation, and the rule of law are not optional elements of EU membership,” said Gabriel Schwaderer, executive director of EuroNatur. “They are fundamental European standards that cannot be compromised.” The resolution also expresses concern about Albania’s Strategic Investment Law, which, according to numerous organizations, risks expediting permits by reducing environmental reviews in particularly sensitive areas.
This is not the first time that Vjosa-Narta has drawn international attention. In recent years, the area had already been at the center of controversy over the construction of the Vlorë International Airport, which was initiated within the larger protected landscape and contested by scientific and environmental organizations. In 2023, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention had called on Albania to suspend construction and conduct new environmental assessments.
A Test for Europe and Albania
The Vjosa-Narta case comes at a particularly sensitive time for the European Union’s enlargement process in the Western Balkans. For Brussels, the protection of biodiversity has become a measure of candidate countries’ ability to implement rules, controls, and procedures in accordance with European law. For this reason, the European Parliament’s vote should be seen as more than just a response to a local dispute. Strasbourg is affirming that the protection of natural areas, respect for the law, and administrative transparency are part of the very criteria governing accession to the Union.
