Coastal Tourism Clash: Thousands of Albanians kept protesting in Tirana and at Zvërnec against a €1.4–€1.6bn luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, with police using water cannons as crowds breached barriers; critics say the project would permanently damage the Vjosa-Narta protected wetlands and Sazan Island’s sensitive ecosystems, while the government insists it will boost high-end tourism and jobs. Anti-Corruption Probe: Albania’s special prosecutor (SPAK) opened an investigation into how land titles tied to the Zvërnec component were acquired and sold, adding fuel to claims of secrecy and legal changes around protected areas. EU Accession Momentum: The EU formally agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and also approved negotiations to extend “Roam Like at Home” to the Western Balkans, including Albania—moves that could translate into faster connectivity benefits for businesses and citizens. Business Financing Push: The “Double Your Entrepreneurship” program launches July 1 with Bank of Albania funding of €250m and a state guarantee covering up to 70% of collateral, targeting SMEs with subsidized credit for tech, digitalization, energy efficiency, and agriculture. Energy Sector Reform: The government approved a draft electricity law to align the market with EU rules, including new concepts for storage and self-consumption aggregation. Agriculture Data Overhaul: A draft “Agricultural Census” law was approved, with INSTAT set to register farms, crops, livestock, beekeeping and farm employment—raising compliance pressure for farmers.