Greece, North Macedonia and Albania seek UNESCO status for Prespa Lake

Greece, North Macedonia and Albania have launched a joint push to nominate Prespa Lake for UNESCO World Heritage status, reviving an initiative first put forward by Greece in 2014. The three countries say the European Union has agreed to fund initial studies to support the proposed nomination.

Ministers to meet in Prespa

Culture ministers Lina Mendoni (Greece), Blendi Gonja (Albania) and Sedat Sulejmani (North Macedonia) are scheduled to meet in the municipal hall of Prespa to coordinate the next steps. Michalis Rokas, head of the EU delegation in North Macedonia, is expected to join the talks.

Officials say the EU’s support goes beyond political backing and will include financing the preliminary studies needed to prepare the nomination dossier. The mayor of Prespa, Yorgos Stergiou, welcomed the trilateral effort and said the municipality is ready to back the process.

Albania’s ministry of culture said UNESCO recognition could draw greater international attention to Prespa and open opportunities for improved protection, sustainable development and higher-quality tourism.

The Greek proposal dates to January 2014, when Prespa was placed on UNESCO’s tentative list as a potential mixed natural and cultural heritage site. The nomination highlights the region’s biodiversity and wetlands as well as its Byzantine and post‑Byzantine monuments.

The three countries have a history of cooperation over the Prespa ecosystem, including agreements reached at trilateral prime ministerial meetings in 2000 and 2009 and the establishment of a cross‑border Prespa park. However, joint initiatives and the UNESCO bid later lost momentum amid wider regional political tensions.

Photo: SDK.MK)