In this episode of Peace Matters, we explore the unfolding environmental crisis in Albania’s Zvërnec and Sazan Island, where the "Flamingo Protests" have emerged as a symbol of the country’s deepening struggle between rapid economic expansion and democratic accountability. We examine how a localized environmental movement has evolved into a systemic critique of executive power, exposing the friction between state-led "strategic investments" and the preservation of Albania’s last remaining wild frontiers.

As Albania accelerates its bid for European Union membership, we analyze the delicate balance between accession benchmarks and the transactional nature of modern diplomacy, questioning whether the path to Brussels is being paved over protected landscapes at the expense of independent oversight. Can a candidate country’s environmental and democratic integrity survive the pressure of high-stakes foreign investment, or is the "European dream" becoming a tool for silencing domestic dissent?

Guest:

Gresa Hasa is an expert on Albania and the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on the rule of law, state capture, democratic backsliding, and electoral politics. She is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law and the Center for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, Austria, as well as a 2026 BiEPAG Fellow. Her research focuses on the 2016 judicial reform in Albania and broader processes of Europeanization. She holds degrees in Southeast European Studies, with a specialization in law and politics, from the University of Graz and the Central European University, as well as a degree in Political Science from the University of Tirana. In addition to her academic research, she regularly contributes political and cultural commentary to regional and international media outlets.

Accompanied by:

Gjergj Loka, Project Coordinator at the IIP.

This episode was recorded on 6 July 2026.