Protest in Sofia calls on the EU to support environmental activists in Albania

Bulgarian citizens gathered on June 8 in front of the Albanian Embassy in Sofia to express support for Albanian protests against planned construction in protected areas on the Zvërnec Peninsula along Albania’s southern coastline. The environmental demonstration took place under heightened police presence.

“We have gathered here to support our Albanian friends, and what we want is for the European Commission to act in time, because if it reacts in 2027, it will be too late to save the Vjosa-Narta area,” said protest organizer Andrey Ralev of the BALKANI Wildlife Society. He added that the European Commission should protect Europe’s natural heritage regardless of whether the country concerned is already an EU member or a candidate for membership.

According to Albanian participants in the so-called “Flamingo Revolution”, development projects in an ecologically sensitive section of the Adriatic coast would cause environmental damage to the protected area and negatively affect the property rights of local residents.

“What is particularly important right now is that all of this began in Albania with amendments to the law on protected territories. The revised law now allows the construction of five-star hotels in all protected areas, including national parks. The Albanian government has promised to reverse these changes by the end of 2027, ahead of the country’s anticipated accession to the European Union,” Ralev explained.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov