Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says the fate of a proposed luxury resort in the protected Zvërnec area — linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner — will be decided by an environmental impact assessment, not street protests. The plan has sparked repeated demonstrations in Tirana amid concerns about environmental harm and transparency. Albania told the European Commission the project will comply with EU environmental rules as it pursues EU accession. Rama argues the country aims to attract higher-end tourism to reduce infrastructure strain and boost economic returns.
Rama: Kushner-Linked Zvërnec Resort Will Be Decided By Science, Not Street Protests
Albanian PM says fate of Kushner-linked luxury project will be decided by 'science', not 'ideology'
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told Euronews that the future of a proposed luxury resort in the protected Zvërnec area will be determined by the outcome of a formal environmental impact assessment, not by street demonstrations or ideological debate.
The planned development has been linked to Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who serves as an adviser and negotiator for the US president. The proposal ignited mass protests in Tirana over the summer, with demonstrators raising concerns about environmental damage, transparency and political influence.
Rama’s Defense and Economic Argument
Speaking at Euronews' Travel and Tourism Summit 2026 in Brussels, Rama defended the project as part of a broader strategy to move Albania up the tourism value chain. He said the government must attract investments that improve living standards, wages and public services.
"The fate of this project will be decided by science — by an environmental impact assessment — not by the streets and ideology," Rama told Euronews.
Protests and Regulatory Context
Protesters have repeatedly taken to the streets of Tirana to oppose the development; some have demanded Rama's resignation. The project’s location in the protected Zvërnec area has intensified scrutiny from environmental groups and the public.
Albania—currently a frontrunner for European Union membership—assured the European Commission in June that the project would comply with EU environmental standards. As part of the accession process, Tirana must align national laws with the EU legal framework, including obligations on environmental protection, making a robust, transparent assessment central to any decision.
Tourism Strategy
Rama highlighted Albania’s rapid tourism growth, saying that "close to 12 million foreigners" visited the country this year, citing UN tourism data. He argued that relying mainly on middle- and low-income tourists strains infrastructure, natural sites and services, and that attracting higher-spending visitors could reduce pressure while increasing economic returns.
"That's why we are investing also to get investors that bring the very high end," Rama said, adding that upscale projects would be open to foreign capital, joint ventures and local firms — provided they meet regulatory and environmental standards.
Ultimately, Rama reiterated, the resort’s fate hinges on the scientific findings of the environmental impact assessment rather than public demonstrations or political rhetoric.
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