Albania assures EU of environmental compliance for Kushner tourism project

The Albanian government has assured the European Commission that a controversial project linked to US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will comply with environmental law, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has said.

“We have received assurance from the government of Albania that a full environmental impact assessment will be carried out and that European environmental standards will be respected,” Kos told a press conference.

Albania is currently a frontrunner for EU membership, widely considered the second most advanced of the current candidate countries, behind Montenegro.

To complete accession, however, Tirana must align with the EU’s legal framework, including on environmental protection.

The luxury tourism project, worth over €1.4 billion, has sparked mass protests in the Western Balkan country in recent weeks. The plans would affect an ecologically protected area on the Adriatic coast.

Last week, after the EU executive expressed concerns about the project, European Commission enlargement spokesman Guillaume Mercier warned that Albanian authorities should “act without delay” to avoid jeopardising the country’s EU accession bid.

Those comments drew irritation from Tirana, as they appeared to suggest the Commission had already drawn its conclusions, while Albania’s environmental assessment is still under way.

Kos struck a more conciliatory tone, welcoming the right to protest as a fundamental liberty for the EU and all aspiring members.

“The fact that this is happening while Albania is going through the accession process is important. This process is legally and politically binding and subject to constant scrutiny and assessment. So this offers the strongest guarantee that Albania’s nature and environment will be protected in line with the European standards,” she said.

In its annual temperature check of candidate countries’ progress towards becoming EU members last year, the Commission raised concerns about an amendment made to the law in February 2025 which included special exemptions for any investment worth €50 million or more.

This would include the investment project led by the Kushner-backed Affinity Partners, which has been granted special access by the Albanian authorities.

**”**Regarding foreign investments, these are important for every candidate country, but also for the member states,” Kos added. “What matters to us is not so much where they are coming from, but if they are happening in accordance with the EU legislation.”