Special Bird Protection Areas (SPAs) at risk from water transfer projects

19.10.2015

Question for written answer E-013936-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Francesc Gambús (PPE)

Plans were recently unveiled for a system to divert water from the River Ebro to the Tagus-Segura transfer in the Spanish region of La Rioja, so as to avoid the regions of Aragon and Catalonia, which are opposed to the Ebro river basin management plan as it currently stands. The project would not only result in a drop in water levels which are vital to maintain the ecological balance of a number of SPAs: it would also involve the building of 80 kilometres of pipes to divert water from the Ebro to the Douro, and then from the Douro to the Tagus-Segura transfer — and that is bound to have an impact on the environment. With the river basin management plans due to be approved by the end of the year, and in the light of the Commission’s answer to Question E-005942/2015 and its assessment of the first river basin management plans for Spain:

Does the Commission have any information on the aforementioned project, specifically an assessment of the environmental impact that such a transfer would have, especially on the various SPAs that will be affected?

If Spain repeatedly fails to comply with the Water Framework Directive and meet its environmental targets, what impact will that have on the allocation of EAFRD funding?