German parliamentarians give up traveling to Andalusia to find out about the irrigation situation in Doñana

The cancellation of the visit has occurred solely at the German initiative, according to the Spanish Government

The delegation of German parliamentarians that is in Spain to find out about the irrigation situation in the strawberry sector in the area of ​​Doñana has announced that it is renouncing to travel to Andalusia due to the general elections scheduled in Spain for July 23, although I hope to be able to do it in the future. Ministerial sources have indicated to Europa Press that the cancellation of the visit to Andalusia has occurred solely at the German initiative.

In a statement, the delegation of the Commission for the Environment, Nature Protection, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of the German Bundestag (Parliament), stresses that Spanish-German relations are based on an "intense exchange at all levels". and are characterized by a deep mutual respect for the other country's democratic institutions and processes.

For the sake of this respect and "in view of the great political importance that the issues of the trip have acquired in recent days in view of the next Spanish national elections", the Parliamentary Commission has decided to for the moment give up its long-term trip to Andalusia. planned".

In the German chamber's statement, it reiterates that both countries are united by a friendship based on trust "that has grown over the years" and clarifies that the purpose of the trip was "to exchange technical information on a subject of interest". to both countries, such as climate change and its consequences.

In any case, the Bundestag is confident that it will be able to resume this exchange in the future.

Within the framework of the travel program for parliamentarians "promoted and organized autonomously" by the Bundestag, according to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, a meeting was requested with the environmental authority in Spain.

In any case, the parliamentarians did hold a meeting with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) around 1:00 p.m. The Spanish Government agreed to allow the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, to receive the German delegation. The meeting scheduled this afternoon with the General Secretary for Consumption and Gaming of the Ministry of Consumption, Rafael Escudero, is also maintained.

As sources from this department have pointed out to Europa Press, they will present their measures, initiatives and policies aimed at reducing the consumption footprint and ecological impact and increasing the guarantees of consumer goods and repairability.

For its part, in a statement this Sunday, Teresa Ribera's department indicated that it does not value the initiatives of the Parliament of an EU Member State, nor does it give an opinion on whether or not it is convenient for said visit to take place during the electoral period.

Although, the Ministry reiterates its position regarding the situation in Doñana and the reputational crisis in the strawberry sector, for which it directly blames the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno Bonilla.

In any case, the Ministry assures that it supports all legal farmers, who are now threatened by a reputational crisis generated by the "reckless policy" of the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno Bonilla and considers that "it should not be criminalized to the millers".

The Ministry blames the Andalusian president for putting strawberry growers at risk and describes as "unfair" that the marketers make the strawberry growers pay for the irresponsibility committed by the president of the Junta de Andalucía. He also assures that the strawberry workers will always have the Government of Spain at their side.

In fact, he recalls in a statement that he already warned the Junta de Andalucía verbally and in writing of the risk involved in promoting a bill against Spanish and European legislation. At the same time, the European Commission also warned the Junta de Andalucía verbally and in writing that this proposed law goes against European legislation and that, therefore, it will take all necessary measures to stop it if it is finally approved in the Andalusian Parliament.

Therefore, it once again demands the immediate withdrawal of the "law that dries up Doñana" and will file a suspensive appeal before the Constitutional Court if the bill is approved.

Finally, Teresa Ribera's department denounces that Moreno Bonilla knew that he was putting the strawberry sector at risk by a handful of votes, for which he accuses him of "reckless conduct" since in 2021 he proposed a similar initiative to increase irrigated hectares in the Crown of Doñana before which the strawberry traders threatened with a boycott.

"I knew it would happen again. His conduct is reckless: he puts the strawberry workers at risk for his efforts to dry Doñana," he says.