Story perspectives

Kushner Pulls Albanian Resort Investment Amid Protests, EU Warning

6/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jared Kushner withdrew his planned investment in the Albanian resort after Serbian prosecutors charged officials.
Thousands protested in Tirana against the Kushner-Ivanka Trump-linked resort while Edi Rama affirmed it will proceed.
The European Parliament adopted a June 17 resolution urging Albania to stop construction in protected areas and meet EU nature standards.
Albania’s anti-corruption office seized €128.3 million in assets and opened a probe into the resort’s land deals.

History

Historical Context

June 1993’s Copenhagen summit set the Copenhagen criteria—democracy, rule of law, human rights and a market economy—as the EU’s accession baseline. After the 2003 Thessaloniki summit, Western Balkan states signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements; Albania started formal talks in 2020. The current Albanian resort dispute invokes those criteria, and EU officials warn non-compliance could postpone Albania’s accession among the six Balkan candidates.

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Story summary

Jared Kushner withdrew his planned investment in the Albanian resort after Serbian prosecutors charged officials.
Thousands protested in Tirana against the Kushner-Ivanka Trump-linked resort while Edi Rama affirmed it will proceed.
The European Parliament adopted a June 17 resolution urging Albania to stop construction in protected areas and meet EU nature standards.
Albania’s anti-corruption office seized €128.3 million in assets and opened a probe into the resort’s land deals.

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