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Ditari i Opozitës

Bardhi: EP gave protesters the right, Rama to repeal changes to the law on protected areas

Politiko 2026-06-17 16:26:56

Bardhi: EP gave protesters the right, Rama to repeal changes to the law on

The head of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, Gazment Bardhi, has reacted after the approval of the amendment to the European Parliament Report on Albania, stating that the MEPs have lined up alongside citizens who are protesting against interventions in protected areas.

In a public reaction, Bardhi said that the European Parliament is speaking with a unified voice with Albanian protesters, demanding the repeal of the amended provisions of the law on protected areas.

Bardhi stressed that the European Parliament is closely following the peaceful protests taking place in the country and calls on the Albanian authorities to immediately impose a moratorium on new permit procedures, construction works and development interventions within protected areas.

REACTION:

The European Parliament speaks with a unified voice with Albanian citizens who have been protesting for days: repeal the incompatible provisions of the amended Law on Protected Areas, in line with the long-standing request of the Commission and the European Parliament, as well as with the closing criteria of Chapter 27.

But Edi Rama, who seems to have lost even his sense of understanding, pretends he can't read.

The additional amendment adopted today by the European Parliament in the Report on Albania:
* expresses serious concern that the ongoing developments within the Vjosa-Nartë protected area demonstrate the practical consequences of these legal changes and the risks they pose for areas of recognised ecological value;
* expresses that it is closely following the peaceful mass protests taking place in this regard;
* calls on the Albanian authorities to immediately impose a moratorium on all new permitting procedures, construction works and development interventions within protected areas, until the incompatible provisions of the amended Law on Protected Areas are repealed, in line with the long-standing request of the Commission and the European Parliament, as well as with the closing criteria of Chapter 27, and until full compliance with EU standards for nature protection is ensured; and
* stresses that any project in this area must be subject to comprehensive environmental impact assessments, fully in line with EU standards, including a transparent process of public participation with local communities, scientists and civil society.

Now Edi Rama has only one task: to listen to the voice of the MEPs and repeal the changes to the law on protected areas. The draft law has been submitted by us to the Assembly for a month and is awaiting the vote of the MEPs.