Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002498/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE), Mireia Borrás Pabón (PfE)
Last autumn, in order to build solar photovoltaic plants in the municipalities of Lopera, Arjona and Marmolejo (Jaén), company Greenalia began felling 100 000 olive trees that have stood for a hundred years. Backed by the Regional Government of Andalusia but categorically rejected by the general public, the project will take over more than 426 hectares of olive trees, destroying one of the best olive growing areas and causing irreparable damage to the local economy. It will also result in an irretrievable loss of flora, fauna and landscape, which is at odds with the guidelines laid down in EU legislation on this type of facility.
In view of the above, and taking into account the grievances of those living in the municipalities concerned:
- 1.Does the Commission consider replacing century-old olive trees with solar panels to be a welcome development?
- 2.Does the Commission agree that any change in the use of arable land should be accompanied by a corresponding study of the socio-economic, cultural and heritage impacts, in addition to the purely environmental impact?
- 3.Is the Commission aware that competition for land and the loss of fertile agricultural land is pushing the agricultural community to a cliff edge?
Submitted: 23.6.2025