Bern Convention sends clear warning to Albania: Vjosa-Narta is no place for destructive development
Tirana, 15 July 2026 – The Bureau of the Bern Convention has once again sent a strong message to the Albanian Government over the ongoing threats to the Vjosa-Narta Emerald site, making clear that Albania must comply with its obligations under the Convention before allowing any further developments in one of Europe’s most important protected landscapes.
In its latest decision, the Bureau expresses concern over the lack of information provided by the Albanian authorities, reiterates that projects affecting the Vjosa-Narta Emerald site must fully comply with the Bern Convention, and demands that the Government provide detailed information on the permits issued, planned developments and their cumulative impacts ahead of its next meeting in September. It also warns that the same approach could threaten other Emerald candidate sites across Albania.
The decision comes only weeks after EcoAlbania informed the Bureau that construction activities had already started in the Vjosa Delta while authorities continued approving large-scale tourism projects behind closed doors and without adequate transparency. EcoAlbania also warned that the Vjosa Delta is facing an unprecedented wave of development pressure, with multiple strategic investment projects planned across the protected landscape that together threaten to irreversibly transform one of the Mediterranean’s last intact river delta ecosystems.
At the same time, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets across Albania in the largest environmental mobilisation the country has seen in years. What began as a protest against the project in the Vjosa Delta has evolved into a nationwide movement defending Albania’s protected areas against Law No. 21/2024, which opened the door to development inside protected areas.
“The Bern Convention could not have been clearer. The Albanian Government cannot keep pretending that international obligations are optional while opening protected areas to investors. Vjosa-Narta is an internationally recognised area of exceptional natural value, not a construction site. People are protesting because they understand what is at stake. The Government should stop looking for ways around the Bern Convention’s decisions and start implementing them. Otherwise, Albania risks destroying one of Europe’s last wild river deltas and undermining its own European commitments,” said Olsi Nika, Executive Director of EcoAlbania.
The Bern Convention case concerning the Vjosa River and Vjosa-Narta remains open. The Bureau will review the Government’s response at its next meeting in September 2026, when it will also reconsider the organisation of an on-the-spot appraisal. The Standing Committee has already reaffirmed that the Vjosa River and its estuary are among the most important and best-preserved river ecosystems in the Mediterranean and has repeatedly called on Albania to fully implement Recommendation No. 219 (2023), ensure compliance with the Bern Convention, strengthen cooperation with civil society, and protect the area from irreversible damage.
Contact Information:
