The meeting, hosted at the invitation of Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall, brought together representatives from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to discuss droughts, floods and pollution.

“Faced with climate change, floods and droughts, we need stronger institutions, investment and closer cooperation among Mediterranean countries,” Jaupaj said.

He said Albania supported the Ministerial Declaration on Water and the Rome Initiative as concrete environmental commitments for the region.

“Albania is ready to work with the Union for the Mediterranean, the European Union and regional partners to turn these commitments into concrete results,” Jaupaj said.

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The process, carried out under legislation on protected areas, involved field assessments by experts, regional administrations, local authorities and communities, Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said in a social media post.

“Each monument was assessed in the field, including its condition and natural values, while public consultations were held for each area,” Jaupaj said.

The National Agency of Protected Areas (AKZM) and its field teams have completed the documentation, which has been submitted to the Environment Ministry for the next legal procedures, he said.

Jaupaj said the reassessment would provide a clearer basis for protecting and sustainably managing the country’s natural monuments by updating data, assessing their condition and identifying conservation and management needs.

“Natural monuments are an important part of Albania’s natural heritage. Completing this process is an important step towards strengthening their protection and preserving these assets for future generations,” he said.

The review aims to ensure that Albania’s network of natural monuments better reflects the country’s biodiversity and provides a stronger basis for their future protection, monitoring and management.

Under Albanian law, natural monuments include living and non-living natural features or areas with particular scientific, ecological, cultural, educational, aesthetic or religious value.

They include ancient or distinctive trees and groups of trees, as well as habitats and biotopes of endemic, rare, relict or endangered species covering up to 50 hectares.

Non-living natural monuments, or geo-monuments, include geological features such as visible tectonic formations and unique outcrops; geo-morphological features such as caves, canyons, dolines, cliffs and distinctive islands; and hydrographical features including karst and glacial lakes, thermal and mineral springs, waterfalls and wetlands.

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Jaupaj shared images of the bird on social media, describing its return as a sign of the natural wealth and biodiversity of the Vjosa river ecosystem.

The Egyptian vulture is one of Europe’s rarest birds and is classified as an endangered species, with its population continuing to decline, Jaupaj said.

“After many years, the Egyptian vulture has appeared again along the Vjosa river – an extraordinary testament to the natural wealth and biodiversity of this ecosystem,” he said.

Jaupaj said the bird’s presence was an encouraging sign that nature could recover when protected.

“Let us protect habitats, rivers and every species that gives life to our ecosystems. Vjosa is not just a river – it is a refuge for life,” he said.

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Jaupaj highlighted on social media the work of Ecosoft Albania, a company that provides technology for water treatment, filtration and reuse, helping reduce unnecessary consumption of one of the country’s most valuable natural resources.

Ecosoft Albania has operated in the Albanian market since 2018, offering water-treatment solutions for households and businesses, including drinking-water filtration, sanitation systems and wastewater treatment.

The company said its projects have also sought to reduce plastic waste. Since 2020, its drinking-water filtration systems have helped cut plastic waste by around 19,000 tonnes a year, it said.

Ecosoft said environmental protection was not simply a marketing campaign but part of its long-term business model aimed at preventing pollution.

“In the circular economy, water is not a resource to be used only once, but an asset that must be conserved, treated and, wherever possible, reused,” Jaupaj said.

“Less waste, less pressure on water resources and more technology at the service of the environment,” she added.

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Speaking during a parliamentary interpellation requested by opposition lawmakers over the proposed investment in the coastal area of Zvërnec, Vlora municipality, Jaupaj said the project had been referred for a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), requiring a comprehensive scientific review of its potential effects on biodiversity, protected habitats, water resources, soil, climate and local communities.

“The highest level of environmental assessment provided for under Albanian legislation has been activated,” Jaupaj said.

He rejected claims that environmental procedures had been bypassed, saying the developer applied for environmental review on May 5 and authorities subsequently determined that the project required an in-depth assessment.

Jaupaj said the Pishë Poro-Nartë area is classified as a Category V protected landscape, a designation that allows certain economic, tourism and community activities under regulated conditions.

“Albanian law does not impose an absolute ban on tourism development in Category V protected areas. It establishes conditions, procedures and safeguards governing how such projects may be carried out,” he said.

Environment Minister also disputed claims that the project would automatically violate EU environmental standards.

“The European Union does not impose a blanket prohibition on development. What EU legislation requires is an assessment of the project’s actual impact on protected habitats and species,” Jaupaj said, referring to the bloc’s Habitats and Birds Directives.

He said the government’s role was to ensure that any development complies with environmental legislation, biodiversity protection requirements and European standards, while supporting economic growth and employment.

“The question is not whether development can take place, but whether it respects the law, environmental criteria and European standards,” Jaupaj said.

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Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj said in a social media post on Monday that “air quality is both a public health issue and a technical requirement for EU membership.”

He added that the strategy sets a long-term vision, while the specific implementation plans provide concrete measures, clear timelines, and defined responsibilities for practical application.

“The National Strategy and Action Plan on Air Quality serves as a roadmap for real change, with clear institutional accountability, investment planning, and close cooperation with municipalities, businesses, academia, and civil society,” Jaupaj wrote.

The strategy establishes policy objectives and options to improve air quality in Albania over the long term, aiming to deliver direct public health benefits while enhancing quality of life and protecting the environment.

It also outlines steps to align the existing legal framework with EU legislation and ensure its effective implementation.

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The programme serves as a joint platform supporting Albania’s transition towards sustainable development and its European integration process.

Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said discussions focused on measures ranging from strengthening the circular economy framework through the Extended Producer Responsibility law, to improving the climate monitoring system and greenhouse gas inventory, as well as ensuring sustainable management of protected areas through new financial instruments and integrated management plans.

“Through institutional coordination, we can ensure accurate data for decision-making, build capacities at central and local levels, and channel investments that increase resilience to climate change while protecting biodiversity,” Jaupaj said.

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Jaupaj said recent investments were reshaping the site and nearby landscape, but warned that end-point infrastructure alone would not meet the country’s needs.

“The Environment Ministry is committed, through major programmes, to completing all required infrastructure nationwide,” he said. “But source separation remains a central challenge, and it must be implemented by local governments in their cities.”

He said environmental education programmes in schools and universities were helping build public awareness and support.

“These initiatives provide a strong basis for introducing source separation successfully. The aim is to increase the amount of recoverable waste that can be sold and reintegrated into the circular economy,” Jaupaj said.

The minister added that Albania must minimize the amount of waste deposited in landfills to extend their lifespan.

“Albania does not have the luxury of many landfills. But with separation and encapsulation processes, significant progress is being made,” he said.

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