Planas trusts a solution for Doñana without resorting to article 155: "There are less extraordinary legal mechanisms"

   MADRID, 24 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Luis Planas, has guaranteed that the central government has mechanisms to stop the regularization of irrigation in the area of ​​Doñana that the Junta de Andalucía intends and hopes to do so without having to resort to the application of the Article 155 of the Constitution.

"I think it is too soon to talk about it, there are legal mechanisms, let's say less extraordinary than this constitutional mechanism," Planas explained in an interview on Cadena Ser when asked about the possibility of applying an "environmental article 155" in Andalusia .

Planas has alluded to the two occasions in which the Government of Spain has resorted to this instrument, such as in the Canary Islands due to the tax system "that did not materialize" and "during the period of Mariano Rajoy in relation to the situation in Catalonia, fortunately now overcome".

In the case of Andalusia, he believes that "it is too soon" to consider this route because, in his opinion, "the problem is not where you arrive, but the path itself; what image are being created with all this history". What he has assured is that the Government of Spain has "legal mechanisms" to act.

"The issue is a law that is not in accordance with the legal system and here the Board attributes powers in water matters that are not its own; there is a division of powers and water rights and the regulation of basins, in this case the of the Guadalquivir, is a national competence by the Constitutional Court itself that declared it so and implies that it is the government of Spain that has to resolve, through the hydrological plans and the water allocations of the hydrographic confederation".

In this sense, the Minister of Agriculture has acknowledged that he is concerned about the "export of red fruits" and the "reputational" impact of this situation so that "the good work of farmers will not be damaged."

"We sell 1,500 million euros of red berries a year, basically to the European Union, but also to countries like the United Kingdom, like Switzerland and what are consumers going to think," argued Planas, who assured that the Ministry is already receiving "Many queries are made through embassies and there are private certifiers that the large purchasing centers ask to verify their products."

The head of Agriculture has criticized the proposal of the Junta de Andalucía for whom "it is a book subject" that is sure "that it will be studied" because it consists of "making a promise on the basis of what does not exist". In this sense, he has specified that the "famous transfer of Tinto-Odiel" to which the Junta de Andalucía appeals to legalize irrigation in the area of ​​Doñana "is designed precisely to regenerate the aquifers that partly feed legal red fruit crops of that area, not for new growing areas".

Planas has defended the farmers, however, and has ensured that "some had irrigation rights to which unfounded promises have been made." "That is the reality, as sad as that," added Planas and accused the PP of "having bought the Vox program that is defending risks that, in no case, will they be able to be legal."

For Planas, "all this is not very serious for farmers and public opinion" and poses "very serious problems for Europe." "There are those who don't care about this, but it does matter to me and it should matter to all Spaniards who know that Brussels is our Washington for us and that a good part of the decisions that positively affect Spain are there."

Regarding the drought, the minister believes that the consequences of climate change can be alleviated in time if "everyone does what they can do" and believes that the primary sector must be clearly supported.

"The Government is going to adopt measures. That is the important thing," stressed the minister in the face of criticism from the drought table, it has taken too long to meet. Planas believes that there is no electoral campaign in which the issue of water is not used: "You cannot distribute water that does not exist. If the PP decides to campaign for it, it's up to them."

For Planas "the situation must be very clear" and he has assured that there are "rational alternatives" to alleviate the drought situation and gave as an example "the use of non-conventional water, reused, recycled water, also desalination, which is more expensive, but with the drop in energy prices as a result of renewables, it is a real alternative".