For several days, residents in Permet have noticed a helicopter flying overhead and dozens of trucks bearing GEOTEC Spa on the side. Today, an Exit journalist visited the site to find out more. What we discovered was a number of vehicles parked next to the Vjosa River. At this same point, helicopters were landing and taking off throughout the day. When Exit tried to get nearer the site, the journalist was asked to leave. Exit called GEOTEC’s Albanian office to ask for information on what work was being conducted. After being on hold for some moments, the representative said: “We are not authorized to give that information.” When Exit asked if they were looking for oil or if they were planning on drilling, they repeated the above sentence. Exit has reached out to their office in Italy as well as the Municipality of Permet to ask for further information on the project. According to their company profile: “GEOTEC specializes in onshore seismic acquisition for geophysical research and geological knowledge of the subsurface for oil and gas exploration and scientific purposes. Geotec S.p.A. is a national leader when carrying out geophysical surveys using the 2D/3D seismic reflection method especially in mountain and very difficult areas where helicopter support is necessary.” The Vjosa River has been a controversial topic in recent years as activists both locally and internationally have called for the entire river to be designated as a National Park. This would prevent it from being developed, destroyed, or interfered with by way of hydropower plants and similar. Prime Minister Edi Rama has refused to designate it as such, instead, giving some parts of it Protected Area Status. While this offers the river some protection, it does not prevent HPPs from being built, nor does it stretch to this part of Permet. https://exit.al/en/2021/04/22/mining-and-drilling-company-spotted-surveying-banks-of-vjosa-river-in-permet/

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia are set to visit Brussels next week to discuss the resumption of dialogue between the two countries, but they will not meet with each other. The European Commission confirmed that President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosovo will have separated meetings with senior EU officials in Brussels next week. The timetable shows that Vucic will meet EC President Ursula Von Leyen, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on Monday. Kurti’s meeting with the same officials are set for three days later, on Thursday. The meeting agenda was published after the two leaders had meetings with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in their capitals. The dialogue on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia was one of the topics Maas discussed with both parties. Kosovo insists on a dialogue based on clear principles and for the process to end with mutual recognition. The new Kurti government says the dialogue is not their main priority, nad that they are focused on dealing with the pandemic and securing vaccines. Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with Maas on Friday, Vucic said Serbia is ready to continue talks with Kosovo. https://exit.al/en/2021/04/23/leaders-of-kosovo-and-serbia-to-discuss-the-dialogue-in-brussels-separately/

The Port of Durres has joined the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) as an observer member. The port accounts for some 40% of international freight traffic and is the main maritime hub in the country. The ESPO is a representative body of port authorities, associations, administrations, and reports from member states of the European Union and Norway. It includes non-EU members under observer status. It represents more than 98% of all ports in the EU, totaling some 500 locations. ESPO’s chair, Annaleena Makila welcomed the news with a statement to the media: “We are very delighted to welcome Durrës Port Authority as an observer member in ESPO. With this new observer membership, ESPO is again strengthening its presence in the Med and Adriatic. I am confident that Port of Durrës’s membership of ESPO will further strengthen the already good relations between the port and many ESPO members, and since Albania is now clearly on its way to accession to the EU, we are very happy to welcome Albania’s premier port in the ESPO family.” Pirro Vengu, the CEO of the Durres Port Authority added: “The Port of Durrës is honored to join ESPO as an observer member. As Albania and the EU are ready to commence accession talks, our cooperation is all the more important. We are committed to becoming an active partner of the ESPO network and count on its unparalleled expertise to help us improve standards of operation, port governance and strengthen the Albanian maritime sector as a whole.” Secretary-General of ESPO, Isabelle Ryckbost said they are working with the Port of Durres to help them prepare to meet EU policies and to exchange good practices and challenges. https://exit.al/en/2021/04/17/145643/