EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has commented on recent debates regarding the development project in the Pishporo–Nartë area in Albania, following concerns raised by environmental organisations.
In a statement also shared by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Kos said she is in continuous contact with the Albanian government and has received assurances that the project will fully comply with European Union legal standards on protected areas and environmental protection.
She stated that the European Commission has been thoroughly informed about the administrative process concerning the Sazan and Zvërnec developments, and stressed that discussions are being conducted based on verified facts.
Kos highlighted that Albania is one of the leading countries in the EU enlargement process and has made significant progress in environmental protection, particularly under Chapter 27 of the accession negotiations, which covers the environment and climate change.
She explained that this chapter is currently open and will only be closed once all requirements are fully met, with a target timeline toward the end of 2027. According to her, the Commission’s role is to verify whether EU standards are properly implemented before any chapter is closed.
Kos also said the EU has received guarantees from the Albanian government that a full environmental impact assessment will be carried out and that European environmental standards will be respected throughout the project.
She added that the accession process is both legally and politically binding and involves continuous monitoring, which she described as the strongest guarantee for protecting Albania’s natural environment.
Finally, she reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to fundamental rights, including the right to protest, stating that it is respected both in the EU and in candidate countries such as Albania.
