Regenerating Valencia's beaches

29.4.2004

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1438/04
by Enric Morera Català (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission

The Valencian Community's coastline suffers more erosion than any other in Europe. Sand loss is visibly obvious in towns like Piles, Bellreguard, Benidorn, Vinarós, etc. The Spanish Government's Development Ministry has sought to correct the problem by extracting sand from the seabed, but this causes erosion, cloudy water, the burying of marine communities [sic] and a change to the sedimentology and natural coastal configuration. One of the most damaged communities is the Posidonia Oceánica beds.

 

What measures does the Commission think should be taken to prevent this coastal erosion? Does it believe that the European programmes could provide a framework within which the Spanish and/or Valencian governments could adopt subsidised measures to prevent the erosion and tackle the natural regeneration of the coastline?