Detained journalists, heavy-handed police, and steep fines for demonstrators. Months of protests in Albania have turned into a test of the country’s EU ambitions. In Brussels, officials and lawmakers warned that Tirana must investigate the alleged abuses if it wants to close accession talks by 2027.
At a recent meeting at the European Parliament, representatives of Albanian civil society, the European Commission, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) all raised the same concerns. They pointed to violence during the demonstrations, the detention of protesters and journalists, and restrictions on fundamental rights.
The meeting followed months of protests across Albania. They began over a planned luxury resort on protected coastline near Zvërnec and perceived corruption. Since mid-October, students have joined in. The movement now reflects broader discontent with Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government and the political establishment as a whole.
The EU will examine these issues as part of its assessment of Albania’s membership bid. Other concerns about democratic freedoms will also be on the table.
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Pressure to probe police violence
The EU is urging Albanian authorities to examine all the evidence of alleged abuse of power during the protests. Clive Rumbold, a senior Western Balkans expert at the EEAS, said the EU would closely watch every aspect of events in Albania. That includes how children are treated, how detainees are handled, and how journalists are treated.
On 14 October, the EU delegation in Tirana had already voiced concern over the violent escalation of the protests. It urged the police to respect fundamental rights and respond proportionately.
Freedom of assembly must be upheld, but violence has no place in demonstrations. — Clive Rumbold, senior expert for the Western Balkans, EEAS
“Freedom of assembly must be upheld, but violence has no place in demonstrations,” Mr Rumbold said. He also stressed that police officers must act proportionately and within the law. Brussels will examine the concerns under Cluster 1, the ‘fundamentals’ block of Albania’s accession talks. It covers fundamental rights, democratic institutions, and the rule of law. The concerns will also feed into future EU enlargement and rule-of-law reports.
Alarm among Green MEPs
The crackdown has also stirred the European Parliament. Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA/NLD), who led a group of MEPs to the protests in Tirana in late June, met Albanian protesters at her office in Brussels. Afterwards, she said “there was severe suppression of protests”. Ms Strik added that “it took them six months to defend environmental protection, and they were met by disproportionate police force and now are having difficulty accessing justice”.
If Rama continues this path, accession is a no-go. — Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA/NLD)
“If Rama continues this path, accession is a no-go,” she warned. Ms Strik also criticised the authorities for failing to tackle corruption and money laundering. Investigative journalist Gjergji Erebara and Albanian MP Redi Muçi of the Together Movement (Lëvizja Bashkë) have both highlighted these problems.
Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA/AUT) raised concerns about financial penalties that could discourage people from joining demonstrations. “Protesters cannot be scared away with high fines,” he said.
Mr Waitz called peaceful assembly a fundamental democratic right. He also urged demonstrators to avoid violence and damage to property. His comments reflect a wider worry that measures meant to keep public order could discourage peaceful political participation.
Citizens at the reform table
Hubert Duhot, of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, acknowledged concerns about violence at the protests and the need for meaningful political dialogue. He said the EU rejected both vandalism by demonstrators and alleged excessive force by Albanian police.
The Commission also wants Albania’s political parties to cooperate better. It wants civil society to have a say whenever major reforms are on the table.
“Enlargement remains a merit-based process,” Mr Duhot said. That means Albania must show progress on democratic standards, legal reforms, and the protection of fundamental rights. The Commission also expects Albania to treat credible allegations of excessive arrests or police violence as a priority. For Brussels, the issue goes beyond individual demonstrations. It concerns how Albania’s institutions respond to public criticism and whether citizens can take part in political decisions.
Green laws under scrutiny
The protests have also put Albania’s environmental laws in the spotlight. According to the Commission, many provisions of the 2024 amendments to Albania’s Law on Protected Areas still fall short of EU environmental standards.
Chapter 27 of the EU–Albania accession talks covers the environment and climate change. Under it, Brussels expects the Albanian authorities to bring national law in line with EU standards.
Albania’s environment minister was due to meet EU officials about this issue last week while the Albanian parliament debated it. “Changing legislation will not suffice,” Mr Duhot said. “Albania has to show that environmental regulations are actually enforced.”
Democratic test ahead of 2027
Albania hopes to close its accession talks by 2027 and join the EU by 2030. The EU supports this goal and believes Albania plays a key strategic role in the Western Balkans.
But Mr Rumbold pointed out that Albania still needs to make progress on judicial reform, tackling corruption and organised crime, election standards, and media freedom. He also voiced concern about growing polarisation in Albanian politics and the Albanian parliament’s ability to hold genuine debate and scrutinise the government.
Brussels now treats the handling of the protests as part of a wider review of Albania’s democracy. For the protesters, the main demand remains the government’s resignation. Another test is whether Albania’s institutions properly investigate alleged police misconduct and hold those responsible to account. For Albania’s long-term EU ambitions, the question is whether the government can show that citizens are free to protest peacefully without facing fines. They must also be able to criticise those in power and exercise all their basic freedoms.