Dozens of environmental organisations are urging the Albanian government to halt the mega project on Sazan.
All eyes have turned to Albania after more than 40 environmental groups across Europe called for the suspension of Donald Trump’s son-in-law’s mega project.
Last year, Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump sparked controversy after revealing plans to transform the uninhabited island of Sazan into a tourist destination for the elite. Plans for Affinity Global Development to bulldoze the natural area to make way for a luxury resort were given the green light by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama last January
The project is estimated to cost around €1.4 billion, and was made possible thanks to the infamous Law 21/2024 – which allows construction of five-star hotels anywhere in the country, including protected natural areas.
Once home to a military base, Sazan is one of the last undeveloped islands in the Mediterranean – surrounded by the Karaburun–Sazan Marine National Park and a crucial haven for some of the world’s most endangered marine species.
‘Deep concern’ over Sazan development
In a letter to Rama and Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj, a group of environmental organisations from 28 different countries has urged the government to halt any decision that would advance the project. It comes just one week after Ivanka Trump was spotted having dinner with Rama along with a team of architects.
Groups including the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Monitoring (MedCEM) warn that the proposed development would involve interventions over an area of 45 hectares on Sazan – raising “serious concerns” about its environmental impact.
Sazan is surrounded by the Marine National Park and its waters are designated as a Specifically Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). The sea around Sazan offers valuable and key habitats for endangered species like the Mediterranean monk seal, while nearby Posidonia underwater meadows are essential for biodiversity and climate.
'A serious threat to delicate habitats'
“The construction of a luxury resort, with large-scale infrastructure interventions such as sea traffic, roads and sewage systems, poses a serious threat to these delicate habitats,” the letter reads.
“Such interventions bring noise, artificial lighting, pollution and increased human presence – all of which may drive away wildlife from critical areas, including coastal caves that are essential for the survival of the monk seal.”
The letter goes on to argue that the project and its approval are a “direct contradiction” of Albania’s commitments under the process of joining the EU. It comes just days after Albania joined Trump’s newly created ‘Board of Peace’, which he claims will create a safer future for the world.
Euronews Green has contacted Albania’s Ministry of Tourism and Environment for comment.
