What happened: On 4 November, the European Commission published its 2026 Enlargement Package. Its roadmap for Albania aims to close Chapter 27, on the environment, in the second half of 2027, as long as Albania meets the EU's closing conditions. The Commission's report finds limited progress on the environment and says the 2024 changes to the protected areas law have contributed to worse nature protection. It names three development permits and preparatory works at Pishë Poro Nartë, and raises concern that they went ahead without an environmental impact assessment or public consultation.
Why it matters: In 2024, Albania changed its protected areas law to allow construction, tourism and infrastructure inside national parks, wetlands and coasts. At Vjosa-Narta, one of the Mediterranean's most valuable coastal wetlands and home to more than 2,300 species, early works have already damaged dunes, forest and lagoon. The works are paused, but the law is still in force.
What happens next: Albania now has a timeline. Before Chapter 27 closes, EcoAlbania and Park Hub are calling for the harmful provisions to be repealed, effective protection of natural areas restored and environmental safeguards shown to work in practice.
The EU has now put a date on Albania's environment chapter. That gives everyone a clear test: repeal the harmful provisions before the chapter closes. Park Hub will keep supporting EcoAlbania until that test is met.
Read the Commission's report: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/albania-report-2026_en
Follow with EcoAlbania: https://ecoalbania.org/nuk-ka-te-ardhme-evropiane-ne-kurriz-te-natyres-be-kerkon-shfuqizimin-e-te-ligjit-per-zonat-e-mbrojtura/?lang=en
About Park Hub: Park Hub is the Protected Areas Litigation Hub of AllRise, a Vienna based environmental litigation organisation. It supports local organisations defending threatened protected areas with funding, international reach and, where needed, legal support, and stays with each case for the long haul.
About EcoAlbania: EcoAlbania is an Albanian environmental organisation working to protect the country's rivers and natural heritage. It led the successful campaign that made the Vjosa Europe's first wild river national park in 2023, and is now leading the legal challenge to defend Pishë-Poro-Narta.
The case in brief: In 2024 Albania weakened the law that protects its national parks, wetlands and coasts. At Pishë-Poro-Narta, in the Vjosa delta, this opened the door to resort development that has already damaged the site. The works are now paused, but the law is still in force. EcoAlbania is challenging it in Albania's Constitutional Court and through European bodies, with support from Park Hub.