Brussels warns against further damage to the Llobregat Delta

BrusselsNew warning from Brussels to Spain and the government of Salvador Illa for the expansion of El Prat airport. The day after the proposal presented by the President of the Generalitat (Catalan government) regarding the future of the infrastructure, the European Commission issued a statement on Wednesday warning the State that it "must take the necessary measures to prevent further deterioration of the Natura 2000 area in the Llobregat Delta as a result of the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects," such as the "international" one.

Furthermore, if the Spanish and Catalan authorities consider the expansion to be of great public interest and, despite the damage it may cause to the natural area protected by the European Union, wish to go ahead, they must have the approval of the Community executive. "Before granting any authorization, they are obliged to notify the European Commission and request its opinion," the Brussels statement states.

In this regard, although it wanted to emphasize it the day after Isla's announcement, the European Commission assures that it already sent these warnings by letter to Spain on February 18, 2021. It also reports that the community executive again forwarded these warnings to the Spanish authorities, to the Spanish authorities, on April 2 of that year.

Infringement proceedings still pending

At this meeting, the European Commission stated that it also reminded the Spanish and Catalan authorities that "before continuing with the airport expansion project, they must implement the necessary measures to put an end" to an ongoing infringement process that is already open due to the environmental impact of the same infrastructure in the Llobregat Delta. This infringement procedure asserts that the Spanish State and the Generalitat (Catalan government) are neglecting the natural area, which is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network, and are failing to guarantee the preservation of the biodiversity conservation area, especially with regard to birds.

Thus, Brussels insists that "before giving the green light" to any type of project, such as the expansion of El Prat Airport, it is necessary that "all the requirements of European Union environmental legislation be met," especially the Habitats Directive and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Along the same lines, the European Commission's Environment spokesperson, Maciej Berestecki, assured in a press conference this Tuesday that the EU executive is already "aware" of the expansion of El Prat Airport announced by the President of the Generalitat (Catalan Government). However, he avoided going into details or assessing whether Isla's proposal specifically might violate European Union law. In any case, Brussels reminds the Spanish government and the Generalitat (Catalan Government) that they must avoid worsening the state of the protected area of the Llobregat Delta and, before carrying out any expansion, they must do their homework and resolve the infringement proceedings already underway, specifically to prevent the preservation of this same natural area.