A group of ten Green MEPs, led by Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE), have asked the European Commission to clarify whether Albania's handling of the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area violates EU accession benchmarks under Chapter 27 on environment and climate change. The written question, submitted on 29 June 2026, follows a statement by Commissioner Marta Kos on 15 June 2026 that an environmental impact assessment would be carried out and EU standards respected. However, the MEPs cite reports that heavy machinery has already been used inside the protected area before the assessment was completed, and note that 2024 amendments to Albania's Law on Protected Areas remain in force.
first, an assessment of the compatibility of the reported works and the 2024 law amendments with Albania's closing benchmarks under Chapter 27; second, details of independent verification steps the Commission is taking beyond assurances from Albanian authorities; and third, how any confirmed breaches will be reflected in the Commission's assessment of Albania's EU progress, including the concerns raised in Parliament's 2026 Albania report.
The MEPs' intervention targets a cleavage between EU environmental standards and Albania's domestic legal and administrative practices. If the Commission finds non-compliance, it could slow Albania's accession negotiations, affecting Albanian authorities and pro-accession stakeholders. Conversely, a lenient assessment could weaken the credibility of Chapter 27 benchmarks, impacting EU environmental policy coherence and the interests of environmental NGOs and local communities in the Vjosa-Narta area. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it prioritises enforcement of environmental conditionality or flexibility in the enlargement process.