Mountainous areas for 1 euro – Why is Rama in a hurry?

In the face of the unresolved property Case in albania, rama's Ultimatum for the rapid preparation of maps seems hasty, while mayors must be careful to apply the law and not vague orders.

In most mountainous areas, land is divided "by word of mouth" between families, without official documents.

Under the new law, the "occupier" can become the owner if he proves that he lived or used the land for 10 years, with three witnesses or satellite photos.

However, according to experts, this is a legal loophole that paves the way for major abuses:

Opposition leader Sali Berisha said that with this "package" Rama is sowing hatred and civil war:

"Rama can't hide his fierce hostility towards the north and the mountainous regions. In 2012, we passed a law that exempted investments in the mountainous regions from taxes for 8 years, without taking a single square meter of land from anyone. With what he is doing now, he is only sowing hatred and civil war."

The fires that burned thousands of acres this summer were not accidental. They are occurring in mountainous areas where there are no property certificates.

In Albania, most owners have inherited properties from generation to generation, without official registration. They are divided orally, but without conflict, mainly in the north.

According to the law, companies can also benefit, if they prove that they have owned the land for 10 years, with the state selling the large areas for 1 euro per square meter for investments such as mountain resorts.

Experts explain the legal gap and the term "owner": "Owner" means that if you have owned the land for 10 years - it doesn't matter if it belongs to your family. If you prove it with three witnesses, saying that I grazed my animals here or had a sheepfold or cultivated land, and attach a map or photos, the municipality can recognize you as the owner and build a guesthouse."

For documentation, the law assigns responsibility to local government and specifically to mayors.

The "Mountains Package" (Legislative Initiative 20/2025) was approved in January and passed in March with 73 votes. The opposition accuses that this package served the government's pre-election campaign.

The law paves the way for the transfer of state land at 1 euro per square meter to untitled holders who have held the property continuously for at least 10 years. The first 500 investors will have zero taxes for 10 years.

Πίσω από την «Πακέτο των Βουνών», υπάρχει έλλειψη διαφάνειας και σκιά αμφιβολιών. Βουλευτές της αντιπολίτευσης επισημαίνουν πώς ο Ράμα εξαπάτησε τους κατοίκους του Θέθ: «Πριν χρόνια κάλεσε τους κατοίκους να επενδύσουν και να επιστρέψουν, στη συνέχεια κατέστρεψε τις περιουσίες τους μέσω κατεδαφίσεων. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι αυτό που βλέπουμε σήμερα, με πλήρη καταστροφή κατά τη διάρκεια της τουριστικής περιόδου. Το Πακέτο των Βουνών προκαλεί σοβαρές αμφιβολίες και αποκλείει τη διαφάνεια».

Ο Μπερίσα καταγγέλλει την ανεξέλεγκτη παρέμβαση της κυβέρνησης, που κατεδάφισε ξενώνες και κτίρια στο Θέθ, πλήττοντας την τοπική οικονομία:

"For 12 years the government has invested much less in the north than in third-class areas in other parts of the country. And now they are presenting the Mountain Package while destroying 100 buildings in Theth, without any plan, like any occupier. This is a crime!"

Experts warn citizens to be careful when announcing properties affected by the Mountains Package and to appeal, otherwise the property may pass to the strategic investor.