Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001996/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Leire Pajín (S&D), Sandra Gómez López (S&D)
The Valencian Government has amended Law No 5/2018 on the Horta of Valencia (the municipality of Valencia and three neighbouring counties). The reform reclassifies protected areas, allows the construction of new buildings and paves the way for the granting of permits for new agricultural and tertiary uses. It also removes links to reports on the impact that projects have on the landscape and on the environment.
The Horta of Valencia is partially included in the Natura 2000 Network. It’s also protected under the Habitats and Birds directives. The management of the sites concerned – or parts of them – is subject to very strict conditions under the supervision of the European Commission. In particular, any plan or project likely to have a significant impact on the sites – even indirectly – must be subject to a rigorous environmental assessment of the implications and of the sites’ conservation objectives.
As the guardian of EU law and of environmental legislation, could the Commission clarify:
- 1.What steps it has taken to monitor the situation and assess the impact of the new law on the Horta of Valencia and its potential effects on protected sites?
- 2.What steps it has taken to protect the culture, heritage and environment of the Horta of Valencia?
Submitted: 19.5.2025