TIRANA, Sept. 1 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party called on the government on Tuesday to repeal amendments made in 2024 to the law on protected areas, saying they had opened environmentally sensitive areas to construction projects.
Gazment Bardhi, head of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, said the government was seeking to address concerns raised by the European Union through a new environmental draft decision while leaving the disputed legal amendments unchanged.
“That may provide an additional filter, but it cannot be presented to the European Union as addressing its concerns while the law that created the problem remains untouched,” Bardhi said.
He cited a European Parliament resolution expressing “serious concern” over amendments to Albania’s protected areas law that allow major infrastructure and tourism projects in ecologically sensitive areas and calling for the changes to be reversed.
The Democratic Party has submitted a bill to parliament seeking to repeal the 2024 amendments, Bardhi said, adding that this was also a demand raised by citizens protesting to protect the areas.
Bardhi said the government had two options: repeal the amendments and restore the law to standards compatible with Albania’s EU accession process, or put the issue to a referendum.
“Let Albanians decide. Do not be afraid of the vote,” he said.
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