Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis put Albania on notice Wednesday, warning that respect for the property rights...

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis put Albania on notice Wednesday, warning that respect for the property rights of the Greek minority in Albania is a non-negotiable condition for Tirana's EU membership progress. Speaking before Parliament, Gerapetritis said Athens is "fully vigilant" and has already raised the issue directly with his Albanian counterpart. He made clear that Albania's European accession process cannot move forward without full compliance on minority property rights and international maritime law. The warning comes as protests have erupted in Albania over a major coastal development project on the Adriatic, north of Vlore. The project is backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and has triggered a broader movement against alleged government corruption in Tirana. Members of the Greek minority in Albania have raised serious concerns over property rights tied to the development, adding fuel to already strained relations between Athens and Tirana. The project has become a flashpoint that connects foreign investment, domestic Albanian politics, and Greek minority protections all at once. Gerapetritis stressed that Greece holds a "historical, national and geopolitical interest" in the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU and plays a central role in that process. That position gives Athens direct leverage over Albania's accession timeline, since EU candidacy requires consensus from existing member states. Greece has long advocated for the Western Balkans' European path, but Athens has also consistently tied that support to concrete protections for ethnic Greeks living in southern Albania, a region historically known as Northern Epirus. #Greece #Albania #EUAccession