A political agreement approving the proposal of the Spanish airport manager AENA to expand the El Prat airport in Barcelona was approved recently. The project aims to an increase of up to 20 million passengers in the coming years.
The European Greens say they reject the expansion project, and express “our strongest opposition to an infrastructure model in complete contradiction with the Paris Agreement and with the European Green Deal’s climate objectives.”
Evelyne Huytebroeck, co-chair of the European Green Party, told this site “The proposed airport expansion announced yesterday means continuing to support the future of our economy based on an outdated model. Continuing to exponentially increase air traffic in Europe takes us away from the goal of decarbonizing the European economy and of reaching the goal of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 as established by the European Climate Law. It is time to promote sustainable mobility alternatives such as train travel to allow a reduction in internal air routes where a suitable alternative exists.”
“This agreement is contrary to the objectives established by the European Climate Law and the Next Generation EU Recovery Fund. Southern Europe cannot continue betting on an outdated economic model for the future like the one this agreement promotes. An increase of 20 million passengers will continue promoting a model based on mass tourism, generating precariousness and inequalities. It is time to build an economy for the 21st century.”
Evelyne Huytebroeck MEP
“It is also unacceptable that the proposed expansion will lead to the destruction of La Ricarda, a European Union protected natural area, considering that the European Commission has recently opened an infringement procedure for the poor state of conservation of the Delta del Llobregat as a whole. A project that would cause irreparable damage to the area is simply unthinkable.
“For this reason, we call on the European Commission to oppose the project and demand that the Catalan and Spanish governments take the necessary measures to promote greater protection for the Delta.”
“Finally, we are surprised by the fact that the announcement was made without the necessary consensus with all institutions, and particularly with the Barcelona City Council. For all these reasons, the European Greens call on President Sánchez and President of the Generalitat Pere Aragones not to move ahead with the agreed airport expansion.”
