Thousands of Albanians have continued protesting in Tirana for more than a month over controversial development projects in protected areas, a movement that has now evolved into a broader expression of public dissatisfaction with the country's political establishment. During a visit to the demonstrations, Nicolae Ștefănută said the protests reminded him of Romania's historic Roșia Montană movement, where citizens successfully blocked a disputed gold mining project after months of sustained demonstrations. He argued that the Albanian case raises similar concerns over transparency, corruption and the rule of law, expressing confidence that citizens could also succeed in preventing a project that, in his view, lacks transparency and does not serve either nature or the Albanian people.
According to Ștefănută, environmental issues often become the catalyst for wider public frustration when people feel they have repeatedly witnessed corruption or unlawful actions, eventually reaching a breaking point. He said it was therefore unsurprising that what began as opposition to construction in the protected area of Zvërnec has transformed into a much broader movement demanding accountability from both the government and the opposition. The European Parliament Vice President stressed that his delegation's priority is to establish the facts by meeting civil society organizations, institutions and local communities before drawing conclusions, while emphasizing that the European Union also stands with citizens seeking justice and the rule of law. He reaffirmed his belief that Albania deserves to become a member of the European Union but insisted that EU accession also requires respect for democratic standards and the protection of citizens' rights. Referring to the recent European Parliament amendment calling for a halt to construction in Albania's protected areas, Ștefănută described legal exemptions allowing the construction of five-star hotels in protected zones as highly questionable and said such legislation should be repealed without delay.
He added that Albania's alignment with European legislation during the accession process must include strict environmental protections, recalling that Romania underwent the same legislative adjustments before joining the bloc. Warning that the dispute could have consequences for Albania's European ambitions, Ștefănută said any development that creates doubts or undermines confidence in the country's commitment to European values risks damaging its accession prospects, noting that the final decision on membership rests with the governments and political leaders of EU member states. He also criticized what he described as pressure and repression against protesters, arguing that authorities should instead engage in dialogue with citizens rather than targeting demonstrators, as such actions contradict fundamental European Union principles. Responding to claims by Prime Minister Edi Rama that the protests are part of a foreign-backed destabilization campaign, Ștefănută dismissed the allegation, saying he had heard several contradictory versions of the accusation and found none of them convincing.
Drawing again on Romania's experience, he argued that ordinary people do not spend weeks protesting alongside their families because they are being paid by foreign governments, pointing to the presence of young people, elderly citizens, families with children and members of the Albanian diaspora who had traveled from countries such as Sweden to join the demonstrations as evidence that the movement reflects genuine concern for the country's future rather than an orchestrated campaign.