MEP Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI) has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission, raising concerns over alleged property rights violations and lack of transparency in tourism development in Albania, particularly affecting the Greek National Minority. The question, dated 3 June 2026, follows reports of violent incidents during protests against tourist developments, with members of the minority among the injured. Anadiotis is pressing the Commission to assess these allegations and consider their impact on Albania's EU accession process, which recently entered its final phase after the intergovernmental conference of 26 May 2026 and the adoption of the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR).
first, for the Commission to assess the allegations of property rights infringements and lack of transparency; second, to explicitly include the property issue in Albania's accession dossier and evaluation reports; and third, to request that Albanian authorities conduct an independent investigation into the violence and licensing of disputed projects. The question links these issues to Cluster 1 'Fundamentals' of the accession negotiations, which covers rule of law, fundamental rights, and functioning of democratic institutions.
Anadiotis's intervention targets the Commission's role in monitoring accession criteria, particularly regarding property rights, access to justice, and transparency in land expropriations or concessions. The question reflects a cleavage between EU integration conditionality and national sovereignty, as it calls for external scrutiny of Albania's internal affairs. It also highlights tensions between economic development (tourism) and protection of minority and property rights.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it considers these issues a priority in Albania's accession process and whether it will take concrete steps to address them, potentially affecting the pace of negotiations and the credibility of EU conditionality in the Western Balkans.
Stakeholders impacted include the Greek National Minority in Albania, whose property rights and safety are directly at stake; Albanian authorities, who face potential pressure to conduct investigations and improve transparency; EU institutions, which must balance enlargement credibility with diplomatic relations; and tourism investors in Albania, who could face regulatory uncertainty if licensing practices are scrutinized.