Written question – Urgent issue: land grabbing as a part of Albania’s ‘Mountains Package’ at the expense of the country’s Greek ethnic minority – E-002556/2025

Question for written answer  E-002556/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Galato Alexandraki (ECR)

The Albanian Government is moving forward with a legislative framework – the ‘Mountains Package’ – which allows the transfer of state, community and private land parcels in mountainous areas to their supposed owners, who do not have property titles, through opaque procedures and actions raising serious suspicions of arbitrary confiscation of property. The first ‘investors’ will enjoy full tax exemption, while the areas directly affected include historical sites appertaining to the Greek ethnic minority, which is already under severe pressure, with low property recognition rates (only 10-30 %) and the continued plundering of community land.

The European Commission has committed to ensuring respect for minority rights in the context of Albania’s accession negotiations.

In view of this, can the Commission say:

• 1.How does it assess the compatibility of this law with the European criteria for the protection of minorities and property rights?
• 2.Does it intend to ask the Albanian Government to suspend or revise the ‘Mountains Package’?
• 3.What steps can it take to ensure that the Greek ethnic minority’s community and private land is safeguarded, as well as transparency in the Albania’s land registry procedures?

Submitted: 25.6.2025