The political pulse for the future Andalusian irrigation law moved yesterday to Brussels. The Andalusian Minister of the Environment, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, traveled yesterday morning to the community capital to meet with the European head of this ministry, Virginijus Sinkevicius, in order to explain to him "the truth" about the proposed law presented in the Andalusian Parliament. The Andalusian representative received, however, a serious warning from the Community Executive, which warned of the "disastrous effects" of the Junta's plan and reminded the central government that even without these new actions, Spain does not comply with the judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJUE) that condemned it two years ago for failing to protect this natural space.
"We have come to this meeting with the truth as the only instrument and as the only weapon with which to defend ourselves against this continuous attack and the barrage of disqualifications and lies from the Government of Spain," said Fernández-Pacheco. This proposal, presented by the PP and Vox, "in no way harms" the Doñana national park, he assured in statements to the press. Judging by the statement published by the European Commission, his arguments did not convince Sinkevicius, who fears "disastrous effects" for this territory.
“The Commission is deeply concerned by the proposed legislation in Andalusia. If approved, it would degrade the protected wetlands of Doñana", emphasized the Community Executive, which points out that these plans go "in the opposite direction" to the CJEU ruling of 2021. Brussels has not missed the opportunity to also remember that even "without the probable negative impact of the proposed regulation”, the measures adopted so far by Spain to remedy the situation “are not enough”.
While, according to the Andalusian counselor, the proposed law "comes to solve problems and safeguards the area of Doñana, its aquifer and the rich biodiversity that it treasures", for the European commissioner this initiative "creates a favorable legal framework for the recognition of stormwater use rights and surface water use rights that would add to the excessive pressure on already overexploited groundwater masses” at present. "New deterioration" in its current state can have "disastrous effects" for the conservation of this fragile ecosystem, warns Sinkevicius.
From Madrid, the Government, which sent not only the Minister for the Environment of the Permanent Representation to the EU to the meeting, but also, due to the "seriousness of the matter", a State lawyer, made it clear that this was not “a courtesy meeting”, as the Andalusian Government put it. Neither to clarify misunderstandings, but a meeting in the context of an infringement procedure against Spain that could lead to fines. "The Commission is not stupid, it understands and knows the situation perfectly, and it has made it clear from the beginning," declared Vice President Teresa Ribera, head of the Ministry for Ecological Transition, who recalled that the origin of the file to Spain that led to the sentence was the hydrological plan of the Government of Mariano Rajoy, which led to non-compliance with the habitats directive. "In the opinion of the Commission, this is not a debatable matter or subject to interpretations" and it is clear "that the bill goes in a direction diametrically opposed to what is necessary for the protection of Doñana and Spain's commitments," said Ribera, who last week he met in Stockholm with Commissioner Sinkevicius. Now, after hearing the opinion of Brussels on the subject, "there are no more excuses", concluded the vice president for the Board to act. "The Government demands that the Andalusian Parliament withdraw this bill," emphasized Ribera, who has warned that if the law is approved, the central government will appeal it to the Constitutional Court. "Stop putting Spain's credibility at risk" and "avoid the risk of it being condemned" and punished by paying sanctions, the vice president asked Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of the Junta de Andalucía, and Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, leader of the PP.
