Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001176/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)
The Xunta de Galicia approved the environmental impact statement for the Altri large-scale cellulose plant in Palas de Rei (Lugo), which will consume 1.2 million tonnes of eucalyptus per year and 46 000 cubic metres of water from the river Ulla every day, all on land bordering the Serra do Careón – a Natura 2000 site. The aim is to produce 400 000 tonnes of cellulose per year and a further 200 000 tonnes of vegetable textile fibre. However, the project lacks an assessment of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, which is indispensable to access European funds linked to the Recovery and Resilience Facility. According to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, an economic activity is sustainable only if it does not significantly harm the environmental objectives set by the Union. Moreover, the Green Deal sets as investment priorities those projects that contribute substantially to climate change mitigation and promote technological and environmental innovation. However, this is not the case for this project.
In view of the above:
- 1.Will the Commission look into the failure of the Altri project to comply with environmental directives?
- 2.Will the Commission allow the use of European funds for a project that is not in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal?
Submitted: 19.3.2025