Businessman Behgjet Pacolli has announced the next legal step by MABCO following Albania's move to terminate the concession for Vlora International Airport over alleged failures to meet contractual obligations and construction deadlines.
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Pacolli: MABCO Was Denied Access to Its Investment
In his statement, Pacolli claims that MABCO, which he says owns 98% of the shares in VIA, has been deprived of effective participation in the company's decision-making process since last year.
He further alleges that since April 2026, MABCO has been denied access to parts of the airport facilities and infrastructure constructed through its investments, preventing the company from effectively administering and protecting its investment.
According to Pacolli, MABCO had repeatedly sought a negotiated solution but had not received a concrete response from Albanian authorities.
Six Months to Avoid International Arbitration
MABCO's notice was submitted under the bilateral investment treaty between Switzerland and Albania, according to Pacolli.
The company is now entering the treaty's six-month cooling-off period, during which the parties have an opportunity to resolve the dispute through negotiations.
Pacolli said MABCO remains ready for dialogue and hopes that the Albanian authorities will engage constructively to prevent the dispute from escalating to international arbitration, potentially before ICSID, the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
However, he warned that avoiding arbitration ultimately depends on the willingness of the Albanian authorities to negotiate.
Vlora Airport Project Missed Its Deadline
The airport project was originally expected to be completed in February 2026, with the concession agreement providing an additional 90-day period.
The airport was not completed within the agreed timeframe.
The delays have been linked to a dispute between the concession companies MABCO and 2A Group, with tensions reportedly extending to the construction site.
Representatives and employees of the two companies have reportedly been involved in confrontations, further disrupting construction work.
What Happens to Vlora Airport Now?
Authorities have reportedly imposed fines over the delays, while the Albanian government has initiated procedures concerning the future of the concession.
The outcome of the six-month negotiation period could therefore determine whether the dispute is resolved through an agreement or moves to international arbitration.
For Albania, the stakes extend beyond the contractual dispute: the future of the long-delayed Vlora Airport project remains uncertain while the government and the concessionaire face a potentially costly international legal battle.