Regularising the status of illegal irrigation in the Doñana National Park

17.3.2023

Priority question for written answer  P-000901/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
César Luena (S&D), Javi López (S&D)

A few days ago, we learned that the PP and Vox parliamentary groups in Andalusia had tabled a proposal for legislation in the Andalusian Parliament to regularise some 750 hectares of irrigated land in the Doñana National Park. Previously, in relation to this initiative (P-000552/2022)[1], the Commission stated that this proposal could contradict CJEU judgment C-559/19, which condemned the authorities responsible for protecting the Doñana wetlands for their failure to comply with EU law by destroying its biodiversity. I would therefore like to ask:

• 1.Is the Commission aware of this new unilateral attempt to regularise illegal irrigation?
• 2.Does the Commission not think that any legislation directly affecting the management of water resources, which falls within the competence of the state, should have minimum legal guarantees agreed with the Spanish Government?
• 3.Does the Commission consider that the regularisation of new irrigated areas in the Doñana National Park is compatible with complying with CJEU judgment C-559/19, and what framework for action does it envisage if this proposal for a law is adopted?

Submitted: 17.3.2023

• [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2022-000552_EN.html