Dutch MEP Tineke Strik used the floor of the European Parliament to raise strong concerns about developments in Albania. In her speech, she focused on two main issues: serious environmental damage and the political protection that Parliament has given former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by not approving the lifting of her immunity for the purposes of SPAK’s investigations.
Strik, who had been in Albania a few weeks earlier, said she had seen the situation in Vjosa-Narta firsthand. She called the authorities’ approach of granting development permits before carrying out an environmental impact assessment “incomprehensible.”
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The MEP also criticized Prime Minister Rama’s stance on continuing the project and announced that the European Parliament has passed an amendment calling for the repeal of the law and the imposition of a moratorium, warning that this issue could harm accession negotiations.
In the sharpest part of her intervention, Strik turned to justice and investigations into high-level corruption. Although she praised SPAK’s independence as an achievement of the justice reform, she clearly called on the Albanian parliament not to continue politically protecting officials.
According to her, in addition to corruption investigations linked to the environmental project, SPAK has also requested the lifting of immunity in another case involving former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Since Parliament has not accepted this so far, the MEP urgently called on Albania’s legislature to reverse this decision, not obstruct the investigation, and allow justice to take its course.
Full statement:
“But I would like to dwell on the environmental law because, um, I was indeed a member of this group of parliamentarians that visited Albania a few weeks ago, and I was also very grateful to be received by the Minister of the Environment, but also by a parliamentary committee. That was very informative for us.
We also met, of course, with the protesters and heard their concerns, and we went to the Vjosa-Narta area in order to see for ourselves what is actually happening there—what those protests are about there, and how we can resolve this. Um, and I have to say that, when we went there, it was truly sad to see how much damage had already been done in that area. We saw a 7 km road being built, including through the dunes where turtles have their nesting grounds, their breeding area. The wetlands had dried out, and the connection between the sea and the lagoons has narrowed, which is a vital link. Um, and, um, we also discussed this with your parliament, and we heard that, um, a development permit had been granted in order for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out, which I personally find quite incomprehensible—that you get a permit to cause damage in order to assess whether the damage can be done. So this raised many questions for me.
And, and also when we discussed this with the Minister of the Environment, um, he explained that this would be permissible for the moment because this area is now part of category 5, which is also the result of the change to the law on protected areas, which was adopted in ’24. Um, and the European Commission had previously made it clear, when this amendment was being passed, that this is not in line with EU standards because, if you cannot allow construction in an area that is supposed to be protected, then there is already an inherent paradox in this. Um, but the Minister of the Environment said, ‘Well, we only have to meet these standards by the end of next year.’ And, and that is what I really want to challenge, because, as the Commission also says, candidate countries are not allowed to take steps backwards—there is this principle of non-regression, which is absolutely key. So no faits accomplis should be created on the ground while you know that some standards have to be met in the end, that is, for the closure of the chapters.
This is also why in the European Parliament, um, we adopted an amendment. So, the majority said that the amendment must be repealed, there must be a new law in line with EU standards, but there must also be a moratorium so that we do not create any further damage in this area before a law is adopted that is in line with EU law. So I think there is also a major responsibility for parliament now to ensure that this element will not undermine or hinder successful negotiations and relations with the European Parliament, and, and the European Commission, too, of course. Therefore, I think that, because I got a bit of the impression also from the way the Prime Minister says, for example, ‘This project must continue,’ that there is not much openness to really look at the objections and the possibilities, or I would certainly say, the violations of EU standards—the Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive, and so on. So I really urge you to take this responsibility.
And I know I have to be brief, so just one element: You know, I think the fact that SPAK is now acting so independently is truly a great success of the entire vetting process. This also shows that Albania is on the right track, but it also means that they—they can now bring to light the things that are going wrong. So this investigation is now under way into corruption linked to this project. But there is also another corruption case for which SPAK has requested the lifting of immunity in parliament, and this concerns Deputy Prime Minister Balluku. So far, this parliament has refused to lift her immunity. I would really urgently call on you to reverse this, facilitate this investigation and ensure that justice can be done in general. Thank you.”
