Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002291/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE)
Plans for a solar photovoltaic plant in the municipalities of Santo Stefano Ticino, Ossona and Marcallo con Casone have been presented to the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security. The plant would take up 82 hectares of land, across approximately 140 hectares of registered land[1], largely in Parco del Gelso, an area recognised for its environmental value.
The plans have come up against opposition from local government and the public due to the impact on the landscape and the environment.
Solar photovoltaic is one of the energy sources the European Union is counting on in order to achieve the target of a 42.5 % share of energy from renewable sources in the EU’s overall energy consumption in 2030, as set out in Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (Article 3(1)) – a target so high that it gives Member States the possibility to speed up assessments and grant derogations for solar photovoltaic projects (recital 35).
In the light of this:
- 1.Does the Commission think that the plans submitted have environmental and social costs and an impact on the landscape that cannot justify the construction of the plant?
- 2.Does it not agree that the construction of large numbers of solar photovoltaic plants, in order to achieve the elevated targets laid down in Directive (EU) 2023/2413, could damage landscapes and the environment?
- 3.How does it think agricultural and landscape identity should be protected in the context of the transition to wind and solar?
Submitted: 6.6.2025
- [1] https://www.ilgiorno.it/legnano/cronaca/no-al-mega-impianto-fotovoltaico-d2fb4bb5.