Prime Minister Edi Rama issued a strong warning to businesses during a live discussion with social media followers on Friday, calling on all bar-cafés and other businesses to remove any unauthorized structures they have placed in public spaces.

Rama urged business owners to dismantle these structures themselves, warning that failure to comply will result in legal action, including fines and criminal prosecution.

His message also targeted individuals who have taken over public spaces between apartment buildings and turned them into private parking lots — even installing gates on public land.

“No one has more rights over the space around apartment buildings than any other resident living there,” Rama said.
“I call on those who control such areas — from barriers used to charge residents for parking, pretending the land is privately owned — to stop. There is no private property where no legal permit exists for a specific activity. You cannot just place a barrier in a city and claim ownership, then charge residents to park in front of their own homes. I urge everyone to begin removing these gates and obstructions. Those who have extended onto public space with awnings and tents will not only have them dismantled but will face fines and criminal charges for environmental crimes, unlawful occupation, and destruction of public property,” he declared.

The Prime Minister announced that during the first two weeks of July, authorities will compile an inventory of all illegally occupied public spaces in cities — particularly in Vlora, Tirana, and Durrës, but also in others.

In the second half of July, these areas will be cleared by force if necessary.

“Within two weeks, we must have full inventories in all neighborhoods of these cities. We need to document these obstacles that have made life miserable for residents — entire communities, parents, children — by unjustly occupying entire territories. Then, in the second half of July, we will act decisively, with the full force of the law, with all municipal inspectorates, municipal police, and State Police. We will clear our shared home the way housekeepers tidy theirs — thoroughly and once and for all,” Rama concluded.