The European Union's progress report on the Western Balkan countries, which was published on November 4, drew attention to the serious shortcomings of the six countries in the region, particularly in the conservation of protected areas, species protection and the assessment of the impact of projects on the environment.
The EU report further highlighted that these shortcomings have led to the degradation of nature protection in Albania.
"Albania has not made progress in the field of environment and climate," the report writes, also highlighting the new initiative presented as the "Mountain Package" as an initiative that could create problems with the management of forests and meadows, paving the way for large projects.
Gabriel Schwaderer, executive director of the German environmental foundation EuroNatur, said that governments and EU institutions should view these findings as "red flags" and not just as formalities.
“In Albania, lawmakers should back down from the legal changes on protected areas made in 2024 and from projects that affect their integrity,” Schwaderer said.
The report also cites changes to the Law on Protected Areas in Albania, the construction of the Vlora airport in the Vjosa-Narte protected landscape, as well as industrial pollution in these areas as indicators of steps back in approximation with EU legislation.
The European Union also calls on member states to implement the Birds and Habitats directives, as well as the rules on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment, ensuring that all infrastructure investments comply with international obligations and with public participation in consultations.
Viktor Berishaj, policy officer at EuroNatur, stressed that the EU should consider Chapter 27 of the negotiations as a non-negotiable criterion for the integration of the Western Balkan countries.
"A country that cannot protect its forests, rivers and wildlife cannot be considered ready to join the EU," Berishaj said./BIRN
