The project, valued at about 4.5 billion euros, was proposed in 2024 by Jared Kushner and involves luxury hotels amid flamingo habitats on a remote island, drawing ongoing protests.

Experts describe the biodiversity impact as severe, with mid-June site assessments warning that turtle nesting grounds, bird habitats, and water flows essential to the lagoon could be irreversibly damaged.

Dua Lipa has publicly supported protesters, while the EU criticizes Albania’s environmental enforcement and Chapter 27 obligations related to environment and climate change.

The EU expresses concerns over Albania’s environmental commitments and urges stronger protections as scientists call for immediate measures to curb further ecological damage during ongoing impact assessments.

A large Trump family–linked hotel project in Albania has sparked environmental controversy after satellite imagery and local scientists show rapid, irreversible damage to a coastal area near Narta lagoon, including deforestation, a cleared road, and a new bridge that disrupts water flows.

The project is also accused of destroying nesting sites for loggerhead turtles and disrupting bird habitats and dune ecosystems along the Adriatic coast.

Public figures and celebrities, including Dua Lipa, have voiced support for the project while environmental groups and international bodies warn about biodiversity loss and the need for sustainable coastal development.

Scientists and international voices, after a mid-June site visit documenting habitat damage, urge immediate restrictions or mitigation, with the EU calling for alignment of environmental obligations under Chapter 27 on environment and climate change.

European Commission Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos notes ongoing discussions about repealing 2024 amendments to protected areas and strategic investment laws, signaling external pressure to address environmental concerns.

Prime Minister Edi Rama defends the project as Europe’s premier investment, asserting it will attract foreign capital, create jobs, and help Albania catch up with regional coastal peers.

Protests have intensified over months, with fencing and barbed wire at parts of the site, private security responses, and support from figures like Dua Lipa for environmental campaigners.

Satellite footage from May shows rapid preparatory work: a road cleared, large-scale deforestation, and a bridge construction linking the lagoon to the sea within a 25-day window.