In this episode of The European Republic, our host Nikodem Skrobisz is joined by Marina Rrika — newly elected Non-Executive Board Member of Volt Europa and outgoing Co-President of Volt Albania, and the first person from a non-EU country to sit on Volt Europa's board.

We talk about her path from political science student to pan-European activist, and why she chose European politics over Albania's entrenched two-party system. Marina then takes us inside the month-long protests gripping Albania over the Narta Lagoon and Vjosa River, where Law 21/2024 on protected areas — changed without a parliamentary vote — has opened the door to construction in protected zones, the new Vlora airport, and a $1.4 billion coastal development deal linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. We talk about Prime Minister Edi Rama's response, the role of Volt's MEPs, and what EU pressure and the accession process can (deliver.

From there we widen the lens: how Volt can build trust and real structures in countries far from Brussels, why she believes in investing in people and small local chapters over chasing electoral wins everywhere at once, and where she lands on the federalism question — a deeper, united Europe versus first rebuilding trust in the European project itself. We close on her message to young people thinking about getting involved.

A conversation about democracy beyond borders — and about building your future where you are.

Follow Marina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinarrika/

On Volt Europas recent election:

https://volteuropa.org/news/new-volt-europa-board-elected