Protected areas: Law 21/2024 amendments and Constitutional Court challenge
Status: Constitutional Court rejected repeal (31 July 2025); law in force; political pressure for revision continues.
Conflicting records. The research disagrees; every version is shown and none has been chosen as correct.
- Status
- Constitutional Court rejected repeal (31 July 2025); law in force; political pressure for revision continues.From the research record · cites:
- Constitutional Court legitimizes changes to the law on protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 31 Jul 2025 · journalism · EN
- Protected Areas at Risk: Legal Battle in the Constitutional Court (opens in a new tab)EcoAlbania · Jul 2025 · ngo · EN
- Concrete in front of the Constitution (opens in a new tab)SHTEG · unknown · ngo · EN
- and 3 more in that record
- In force (Constitutional Court rejected challenge 31 July 2025). Repeal bill lodged 14 May 2026; not debated per reports read. EP resolution 17 June 2026 calls for repeal. Government says it will review the law (reported). No repeal found in sources read.From the research record · cites:
- Constitutional Court legitimizes changes to the law on protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 31 Jul 2025 · journalism · EN
- European Parliament calls for ban on construction in protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 17 Jun 2026 · journalism · EN
- Ka cenuar rendë parimet kushtetuese, Ina Zhupa depoziton në Kuvend projektligjin për zonat e mbrojtura (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb · undated · journalism · SQ
- and 2 more in that record
- Constitutional Court rejected repeal (31 July 2025); law in force; political pressure for revision continues.From the research record · cites:
- Start date
- 2024-02From the research record · cites:
- Constitutional Court legitimizes changes to the law on protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 31 Jul 2025 · journalism · EN
- Protected Areas at Risk: Legal Battle in the Constitutional Court (opens in a new tab)EcoAlbania · Jul 2025 · ngo · EN
- Concrete in front of the Constitution (opens in a new tab)SHTEG · unknown · ngo · EN
- and 3 more in that record
- 2024-02-22From the research record · cites:
- Constitutional Court legitimizes changes to the law on protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 31 Jul 2025 · journalism · EN
- European Parliament calls for ban on construction in protected areas (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 17 Jun 2026 · journalism · EN
- Ka cenuar rendë parimet kushtetuese, Ina Zhupa depoziton në Kuvend projektligjin për zonat e mbrojtura (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb · undated · journalism · SQ
- and 2 more in that record
- 2024-02From the research record · cites:
Summary
Law 21/2024 amended the 2017 Law on Protected Areas. Opponents say it opened protected areas to tourist and resort construction. In November 2024, 37 opposition deputies asked the Constitutional Court to repeal it, and the environmental groups AOS and EcoAlbania joined as parties.
On 31 July 2025 the Court rejected the request to repeal the law and found no violation of the Constitution. Press reports say there was no qualified majority of five judges on the question of compliance with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the EU acquis. The European Commission and others asked for repeal or review, and in 2026 the government reportedly said it would adjust the law rather than abolish it. The Vjosa-Narta and Zvërnec cases are in the contracts file and are not repeated here.
Other accounts in the research (2 fields worded differently)
This record appears in more than one research record. The main text above comes from one; the other versions are kept here unedited.
- Title
- Protected areas: Law 21/2024 amendments and Constitutional Court challengeFrom the research record
- Law No. 21/2024 amending Law 81/2017 on Protected Areas: adoption, court challenge, repeal bills and EU/EP demandsFrom the research record
- Summary
- Law 21/2024 amended the 2017 Law on Protected Areas. Opponents say it opened protected areas to tourist and resort construction. In November 2024, 37 opposition deputies asked the Constitutional Court to repeal it, and the environmental groups AOS and EcoAlbania joined as parties. On 31 July 2025 the Court rejected the request to repeal the law and found no violation of the Constitution. Press reports say there was no qualified majority of five judges on the question of compliance with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the EU acquis. The European Commission and others asked for repeal or review, and in 2026 the government reportedly said it would adjust the law rather than abolish it. The Vjosa-Narta and Zvërnec cases are in the contracts file and are not repeated here.From the research record
- Albania's Assembly adopted Law No. 21/2024 'On some additions and amendments to Law No. 81/2017 On Protected Areas' on 22 February 2024 (search summary of Balkanweb/faolex; the vote tally was not found). It was published in the Official Gazette no. 50 of 20 March 2024 (search summary). Critics say the amendment allows five-star or 'structures of excellence' in protected areas and permits redrawing boundaries for resorts. Government and supporters say the change is consistent with the law and that works remain subject to permits. The EU Commissioner and the European Parliament called for the 2024 amendments to be repealed; Rama says the law will be adapted to 100% European standards rather than repealed (per reporting). The Constitutional Court rejected the challenge on 31 July 2025 (Citizens.al); one source says the vote was a 4-4 tie. Repeal bills were lodged by the Democratic Party (Ina Zhupa, 14 May 2026, reported); the majority reportedly kept it off the committee calendar until the end of July 2026. European Parliament resolution of 17 June 2026 calls for a moratorium on permits in protected areas until incompatible provisions are repealed. A referendum initiative against the law was reported in an August 2026 Citizens.al item (not read in full).From the research record
Key facts
- Court decision on 31 July 2025 rejected the repeal request; full written decision expected later (Citizens.al, fetched).
- Petitioners: one-fifth of Assembly deputies, AOS and EcoAlbania (Citizens.al, fetched).
- No qualified majority of 5 judges on SAA / acquis compliance (Citizens.al, fetched).
- IUCN urged Albania to review the law (Citizens.al, 2025-10-03, search result).
- 96 organisations asked the Assembly to review the law (Citizens.al, 2026-06-09, search result).
- 2024-02-22: Assembly approves Law 21/2024 (search summary; tally not found).
- 2024-03-20: published in Official Gazette no. 50 (search summary, Albanian text).
- 2025-07-31: Constitutional Court rejects challenge (Citizens.al).
- 2026-05-14: repeal bill lodged by Ina Zhupa (Balkanweb summary).
- 2026-06-17: EP resolution with moratorium and repeal call (Citizens.al; vote count 483 in favour per one unverified report).
- 2026-07-15: Bern Convention Bureau letter to Albania (EcoAlbania PDF summary).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Constitutional Court rejected the repeal request; law remains in force (press report of the decision).
- Law 21/2024 is the text of the amendment to Law 81/2017 as shown by the official title quoted in reporting; the Constitutional Court rejected the challenge (Citizens.al, 2025-07-31).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThe law was designed to enable resort development and land-use change in protected areas.
- AllegationThat the law exempted 'structures of excellence, 5 stars or more' from construction restrictions in protected areas (one source; a second says it allows five-star hotels in all protected areas including national parks). Texts not checked against the Official Gazette.
Allegations and who made them (3)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationThe law allows tourist construction in protected areas in breach of constitutional environmental principles (petitioners, opposition MPs).
- AllegationCritics (EcoAlbania, PPNEA, opposition) say the law made it legal to build five-star resorts in protected areas and to redraw boundaries.
- AllegationOpposition and NGOs say the law was passed without genuine consultation and against objections from environmental organisations and EU criticism (search summary).
Open questions (6)
- Full text and exact vote count of the Court decision.
- Whether the 2026 government revision was adopted.
- Which permits have been granted under Law 21/2024.
- Who proposed the bill and what was the 22 Feb 2024 vote count? (Not found; need the Albanian Assembly record.)
- Exact article-by-article changes (Article numbers, boundary-redrawing clause).
- Is the government's promised review a repeal, an amendment or a new law, and when?
Responses (5)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Government reportedly says the law will be adjusted rather than abolished (press summary; source not confirmed).
- Rama (Albanian coverage, search summary): the protected areas law 'will be adapted until it reaches 100% European standards'; the Zvernec project will go ahead.
- Rama (Albanian Daily News / Telegrafi, undated): 'The amendment is not related to Zvernec' (translated), in reply to the EP resolution (headline only read).
- Democratic Party (Ina Zhupa): the law must be repealed; a government bill amending the EIA law cannot fix the problem (Balkanweb summary).
- Constitutional Court (Citizens.al, 2025-07-31): challenge rejected.
Timeline
Full timeline →Parliament
Law No. 21/2024 published in Official Gazette no. 50
Search summary of Albanian-language coverage reports publication in Fletorja Zyrtare nr. 50, dated 20.03.2024. Full text not checked.
Court
Constitutional Court rejects repeal of Law 21/2024 on protected areas
Court rejected the request by 37 opposition deputies and environmental NGOs; no qualified majority on the SAA/acquis point; law remains in force.
Court
Constitutional Court rejects challenge to Law 21/2024
Citizens.al reports the Court rejected the request to repeal the law in its 31 July 2025 session; one source describes a 4-4 tie. Challengers reported as EcoAlbania, AOS and 28 MPs in one account (another says one fifth of MPs). Vote record not found.
Parliament
Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa lodges bill to repeal Law 21/2024
Balkanweb summary: Zhupa lodged the bill on 14 May 2026. Majority reportedly voted 7 against putting it on the committee's calendar until end of July 2026. Earlier DP repeal bills reportedly never reached the agenda.
Parliament
Albanian officials write to MEPs asking them not to support amendments 4 and 17
Citizens.al (2026-07-01): an email from two Albanian officials asked MEPs not to support amendments 4 and 17 concerning protected areas and the Zvernec project. The article refers to 'the vote' a day after the email, which conflicts with the 17 June adoption date in other sources.
Connections
Public critic demanding repeal (not confirmed as one of the 37 petitioners)
Evidence: Shqiptarja report of her demand for repeal and constitutional challenge.
Co-petitioner (Constitutional Court)
Evidence: Citizens.al reports EcoAlbania and AOS as petitioners.
Rejected repeal request, 31 July 2025
Evidence: Citizens.al report on the decision.
- Government decision→Vjosa-Narta protected landscape: 2024 law amendment and 2026 EU and NGO challengesSource label: Officially reported
Law 21/2024 amends the protected-areas framework (cross-reference; facts in contracts file)
Evidence: Cross-reference only; Vjosa-Narta facts are in.
- Hypothesis→Sazan island: strategic investor status (2024) and 2026 draft transfer of administrationSource label: Unverified
HYPOTHESIS: the 2024 protected-areas amendment was the legal enabler for the investor approvals
Evidence: SUPPORTS: Law 21/2024 was adopted 22 Feb 2024 (search summary); Sazan was removed from the Armed Forces plan on 2 Dec 2024 and granted strategic status on 30 Dec 2024 (Citizens.al); critics say the law allows five-star resorts in protected areas and boundary redrawing (advocacy sources). WOULD DISPROVE: the Sazan island is reported as outside the Vjosa-Narta/Pishe Poro protected landscape (Rama and Berisha both describe Sazan as state land; no source places Sazan inside the protected area read); the strategic-investment law route (not Law 21/2024) is the stated basis of the status decision; Law 21/2024 text shows no provision applicable to Sazan. Confidence UNVERIFIED.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 12 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 10 sources
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 31 Jul 2025
- Publisher
- EcoAlbania
- Date
- Jul 2025
- Publisher
- SHTEG
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 3 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 9 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 17 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- undated
- Publisher
- EcoAlbania
- Date
- undated
- Publisher
- FAO FAOLEX
- Date
- undated
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 1 Jul 2026
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 16 Jan 2025