Flamingos Versus Fortune on the Albanian Coast

The Adriatic coast, long shielded from development by communist paranoia, now faces a different kind of ambition. In Albania, protesters with cardboard flamingos are squaring off against a multi-billion-euro resort project, a venture carrying the unmistakable brand of the Trump family. It’s a familiar story of progress versus preservation, but with a particularly modern, and politically charged, twist.

The plan, championed by Jared Kushner, involves transforming the uninhabited island of Sazan and a section of the Narta Lagoon into a luxury enclave of hotels, villas, and a marina. This is not just any piece of land; the lagoon is a designated wildlife reserve, a crucial stopover for migratory birds. Yet, excavators are already on site, while Kushner’s investment firm enjoys special investor status from the Albanian government.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is unyielding, framing the project as essential for Albania's high-end tourism ambitions and its long road toward Europe. He has declared that “There is no chance for this investment to stop as long as I am here.” Environmental groups, both local and European, see it differently, warning that protected habitats are being “irreversibly destroyed.” The public mood soured further after footage emerged of an activist being manhandled by private security.

Beyond the environmental outcry, the project is mired in familiar Balkan complexities. The state’s anti-corruption agency has opened an investigation, though details remain scarce. Disputes over the privatisation of the land itself cast a further shadow, a common legal headache in a region where property rights can be a fluid concept. One might wonder if this is a clean investment or a classic case of powerful interests acquiring pristine assets under favourable terms.

For those seeking a glimpse into the future, a cautionary tale lies just across the border. A similar Kushner-backed luxury development in Belgrade, planned for a heritage-protected military complex, recently imploded. After Serbia's parliament passed a special law for the project, prosecutors charged a government minister and others with abuse of office. Kushner subsequently withdrew. This precedent does little to inspire confidence in Tirana's venture, suggesting that such grand projects often rely on more than just architectural blueprints.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com