Albania warned EU accession at risk over Jared Kushner-backed resort plans
Source: The Guardian
Albania warned EU accession at risk over Jared Kushner-backed resort plans
Proposed development of protected shorelines and wildlife zones violates EU environmental policy, says MEP
Helena Smith
Wed 1 Jul 2026 19.19 BST
Last modified on Wed 1 Jul 2026 20.45 BST
MEPs have warned Albania that EU accession talks are at risk if the government does not “change course” over plans for a luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Tineke Strik, the Dutch MEP heading a European parliament fact-finding mission to the Balkan nation, said Albania’s leadership was “playing with fire” by pursuing the €1.4bn (£1.2bn) real-estate venture that would, she said, wreak havoc on virgin coastline.
Opposition to the project has spurred a wave of unprecedented unrest known as the “flamingo revolution” amid mounting calls for the resignation of the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama.
Interviewed by the Guardian, Strik said: “If Rama is really serious about his EU ambitions, he should step back from this trajectory and say to the Trump clan: ‘Sorry, the EU is my first priority.’
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/01/albania-warned-eu-accession-at-risk-jared-kushner-resort-plans
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... and they aren't having any of it. Good for the EU for calling this out!
If Albania elected a corrupt putz of a Prime Minister, why should Albania be admitted into the European Union? The EU is in the catbird seat right now. EU shouldn't be asked to vote in any country that doesn't adhere to their strict requirements.
Albania has to deal with this Edi Rama: either find a new honest Prime Minister, or tell Edi Rama to stop doing business with Kushner/Trump.
