TIRANA, June 16 /ATA – By Maela Marini/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday that the European Commission had been fully briefed on the documented administrative procedures related to the proposed development project in the Sazan-Zvërnec area, southern Albania, sharing comments by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on the issue.
Speaking in a press conference in Brussels a day ago, EU Enlargement Commissioner noted that Albania remains among the frontrunners in the European Union’s enlargement process and had made significant progress in environmental protection, achievements she said should be safeguarded.
Commenting on the debate surrounding the planned investment in the Zvërnec area, Kos stressed the importance of relying on facts.
“The European Commission is in continuous contact with the Albanian authorities, not only with Prime Minister Edi Rama. We recently had a visit from our Director for the Western Balkans, Valentina Superti, who met Albania’s environment minister in Tirana last week,” Kos said.
Referring to the Pishporo-Nartë project, she said that, like all development projects in Albania, it would have to comply with the country’s legal framework and with EU environmental requirements under Chapter 27 of the accession negotiations.
“Chapter 27 is currently open. Before it can be closed, all outstanding issues will need to be fully clarified. At present, its closure is envisaged by the end of 2027,” she said.
Kos said the Commission’s role would be to verify whether the relevant environmental standards had been met.
“Until then, we encourage the Albanian authorities to continue taking the steps necessary to meet the benchmarks for closing the chapter and to help Albania advance on its European path,” she added.
Kos said the European Commission had received assurances from the Albanian government that a full environmental impact assessment would be carried out and that European environmental standards would be respected.
“The fact that this is taking place while Albania is undergoing the accession process is important. The process is legally and politically binding and is subject to continuous monitoring and assessment. It therefore provides the strongest guarantee that Albania’s nature and environment will be protected in line with European standards,” she said.
Kos also underlined the importance of the right to protest.
“It is a fundamental right in our Union and for all countries aspiring to join it. I am pleased to see that this right is respected in Albania,” she said.
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