The European Commission is closely monitoring developments around a planned luxury tourism project at Albania’s Vjosa-Narta lagoon, warning that candidate countries must fully align with EU environmental law as part of their accession process.

There is growing political and public scrutiny of the proposed development, which has sparked protests in Albania and criticism from environmental organisations over its potential impact on one of the Mediterranean’s most important wetland ecosystems.

Speaking to reporters on June 9, Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said Brussels had already raised concerns directly with Albania’s environment minister over potential legal and environmental shortcomings linked to the project.

“We have already expressed our concerns with the minister of the environment about the potential shortcomings of this project,” Mercier said.

Mercier said the Commission understood that Albanian authorities had taken initial steps in response.

“So the minister committed that the construction work have been suspended and that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be carried out for the project, in consultation with civil society,” he said.

The site, located near the Vjosa-Narta lagoon in southern Albania, is considered environmentally sensitive, with conservation groups warning it supports dozens of endangered species and hundreds of migratory bird populations.

The Commission said concerns over such developments were not new and had already been flagged in its enlargement reports, particularly in relation to Albania’s legislation on strategic investments and protected areas.

“We have already spoken to the minister,” Mercier said, adding that “the concerns are not new.”

Under EU accession rules, Albania must align with Chapter 27 of the acquis, covering environment and climate change, including the Birds and Habitats Directives and rules governing protected sites.

“As part of the closing benchmark for Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change, Albania is expected to align fully with EU legislation in this area, including the Birds and Habitats Directives, and also the 2015 legislation on strategic investment,” Mercier said.

He added that Albania must also demonstrate the ability to manage protected Natura 2000-style sites and ensure conservation measures are effectively enforced.

“Albania should refrain from actions that could undermine the fulfillment of the closing benchmark,” Mercier said. 

Pressed by reporters on whether the project could jeopardise Albania’s EU path, Mercier declined to speculate on a formal assessment of compliance, but reiterated the Commission’s position that environmental obligations are binding throughout the accession process.

“We expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay,” he said again when asked about political controversy surrounding the project.

Asked whether Brussels would escalate engagement to higher political levels, Mercier said discussions with Albanian counterparts were ongoing.

“We have been in touch, as I said already with our counterparts and we will continue to do so,” he said.

The controversy has also highlighted tensions between economic development ambitions and environmental safeguards in candidate countries. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has previously defended the project, arguing it would transform the country into a leading tourism destination and deliver environmental improvements, while insisting no final construction approvals had yet been issued.

The Commission, however, reiterated that compliance with environmental law is a core requirement for EU membership and that reforms must be fully implemented before accession chapters can be closed.