Development of Secondary Legislation for the Transposition of the EU Nature Protection Acquis
Donor / Project: UNDP Albania, through the EU4Nature project
Implementation period: October 2025 – October 2026
The project aims to support the Ministry of Environment in advancing the transposition of the EU Nature Protection Acquis into Albania’s national legal framework. It focuses on the review, amendment and development of secondary legislation needed to ensure fuller alignment with EU requirements in the field of nature protection, biodiversity conservation and protected areas management.
Through this project, CoPlan staff contribute technical and local expertise in environmental governance, legal and policy alignment, stakeholder coordination and institutional capacity building. The work builds on CoPlan’s experience in supporting Albania’s EU integration process, particularly in relation to Chapter 27, environmental planning, protected areas, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and the implementation of EU Green Agenda priorities.
The project includes an analytical review of existing national legislation on nature protection, building on previous gap analyses and transposition work. It examines the legal and regulatory framework related to protected areas, biodiversity, wild fauna, hunting, forestry, agriculture, water management, tourism, marine protection and other relevant sectors, with the aim of identifying gaps and ensuring coherence with the EU Nature Protection Acquis.
A key component of the work is the drafting and preparation of legal and sub-legal provisions required for the transposition and implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and related nature protection regulations, including areas such as CITES, FLEGT, EUTR, invasive alien species, zoos, seals and other relevant instruments. The process also includes the preparation of concordance tables and support for the adoption process of the proposed legal amendments.
The project follows a structured and participatory approach, combining legal review, technical analysis, stakeholder consultation and coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. Draft outputs are discussed with the relevant institutions, and comments and recommendations are reflected throughout the process to ensure that the final products are practical, coherent and aligned with Albania’s institutional context.
This project is developed under EU4Nature, in cooperation with UNDP Albania and the Ministry of Environment, and implemented by Civitta UAB in collaboration with CoPlan.