Albania's prime minister has been accused of "sneaky and disloyal" practices to push through contentious plans for a luxury Trump-linked resort, amid fierce protests in the country.
The accusation was made by Dutch member of the European Parliament (MEP) Tineke Strik, who told British newspaper The Guardian that prime minister Edi Rama was avoiding EU environmental rules to build the controversial tourist resort on Albania's Adriatic coast.
As part of the project, thousands of luxury villas are planned for ecologically sensitive sites including Sazan (top image), Albania's only island, and Vjosa-Narta, a wetland known for its pink flamingos.
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Jared Kushner revealed the project in 2024
The project aims to establish Albania as a major global tourism destination and is being backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the son-in-law and daughter of Donald Trump.
Kushner first revealed the project in 2024, and in May this year, Ivanka Trump excitedly discussed the project in a podcast interview, stating it is "almost daunting in its size".
According to a report by US media company The Architect's Newspaper, Berlin studio Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) is believed to currently be involved in developing the project.
The Architect's Newspaper also ascertained that architecture studios BIG, Kengo Kuma & Associates, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, K-studio and Emre Arolat Architecture had previously been commissioned to develop its framework. BIG has since said it is no longer involved.
"I accuse Rama of serving his own interests"
The Albanian government is under fire for supporting the contentious project and for passing a law allowing so-called "strategic investors" to build in the protected landscapes. The European Parliament applied pressure on the Albanian Government to repeal this law in June.
Dutch politician Strik has since accused Rama of "trying to help realise the megalomaniacal luxury resort plans of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner" and claimed he is fast-tracking the development to avoid EU environmental rules before the country, which is an EU candidate seeking membership, is bound to them.
Albania is expected to join the EU by 2030. Strik suggested its actions could compromise the country's EU accession process.
"I accuse Rama of serving his own interests and the interests of Kushner and not the interests of the environment and the Albanian people," MEP Strik told the Guardian.
"The government clearly intends to finalise the procedures before it is legally bound by EU standards," she continued.
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The development is the focus of the Flamingo Revolution
"Such sneaky and disloyal practices should be strongly criticised by the EU. If Albania seriously wants to be a reliable candidate member state, it should respect EU law and not try to circumvent it," added Strik.
The MEP's accusations come amid broader anti-government protests in the capital city, Tirana, which are an escalation of months of peaceful demonstrations linked to the Flamingo Revolution.
The Flamingo Revolution is an environmental movement that began in opposition to the high-profile resort in June after groundworks commenced. It is named after the protected bird species found within the landscapes earmarked for development.
"If the Albanian government had taken the 'Flamingo Revolution' seriously, we wouldn't be here," Strik said.
Resort "would completely destroy that wild region"
The Guardian reported that Kushner has claimed the goal is "to build to the highest design and environmental standards and leave this extraordinary part of Albania greener, more biodiverse and environmentally stronger".
However, an ecologist at the BirdLife Albania organisation who is among those expressing concerns about the project told the BBC that it "would completely destroy that wild region".
In an exclusive interview with Dezeen, Rama spoke of his belief in the power of architecture to make positive change in Albania.
"I am a big believer in architecture and the power of architecture to influence the way we live," Rama said.
"I think that for a country like Albania, good architecture is an uplifting presence – it's a source of extra energy for the society and for the way we envisage our future."
We recently examined why the country's capital Tirana has become an unlikely hotspot for offbeat architecture.
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