Kushner’s €1.4B Albanian Resort Plan Faces Backlash From Environmental Groups
Over 40 organizations urge government to halt development on protected Sazan Island, a key Mediterranean habitat.
More than 40 environmental organizations across Europe are calling on the Albanian government to suspend a large-scale plan to develop a luxury tourist resort on Sazan Island, one of the last pristine areas in the Mediterranean.
The project, linked to Affinity Global Development, was unveiled last year by Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump. It aims to transform the uninhabited island into an exclusive high-end destination with a budget of approximately €1.4 billion. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama granted political approval for the project in January 2025, based on a law that permits the construction of five-star hotels even within protected natural areas.
In a letter to Rama and Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj, organizations from 28 countries demanded the suspension of any decision that would advance the development. The move came just a week after Ivanka Trump was reportedly seen dining with the Albanian prime minister and a group of architects.
Sazan Island, located at the entrance of the Bay of Vlorë, was a closed military base for decades. It is surrounded by the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park, and its waters are designated a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). Environmental groups, including the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Monitoring (MedCEM), stress its importance as a critical refuge for endangered species like the Mediterranean monk seal and for its extensive Posidonia seagrass meadows, which are vital for biodiversity.
The development plan covers approximately 45 hectares on the island, raising significant environmental concerns. “The construction of a luxury resort, with extensive infrastructure such as maritime traffic, road works, and sewage systems, constitutes a serious threat to these sensitive habitats,” the letter stated.
The groups warn that noise, artificial lighting, pollution, and increased human presence could drive wildlife away from crucial areas, including the coastal caves essential for the survival of the monk seal population.
Signatories also argue that approving the project on Sazan contradicts Albania’s commitments as part of its accession process to the European Union. The letter was sent shortly after the country joined Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace, an initiative he said aims to foster a more secure international environment.
