Environmental impact of the project at the old Sant Pere de Ribes race track

Subject: Environmental impact of the project at the old Sant Pere de Ribes race track

The Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya has definitively approved, in the Penedès Territorial Commission for Urbanism, the project to construct an events centre focusing on equestrianism and motor sports on the old Sant Pere de Ribes race track. This project will have a significant ecological impact: a surface area of 677 245 m2, 2 000 horses, 23 000 m 2 of hotels and 35 000 m 2 of land for car parks, all in the middle of an area of high value from a nature perspective. An area of high scenic and agricultural value is losing its protection, an area which, until now, has not been made available for development. Scant regard is also being paid to the area’s ecological function as a biological corridor between the preserved areas of Colls i Miralpeix (between Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú) and the Garraf Massif, both of which are protected by the Natura 2000 Directive and form part of the Plan for Areas of Natural Interest in Catalonia. This area is also a habitat for the Bonelli’s eagle, a species included in Annex I to the Birds Directive.

1. Given its proximity to a protected biological corridor, does the Commission consider that the project is compatible with the Natura 2000 Directive?

2. Does the Commission consider that the project complies with the Birds Directive?

Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (20 November 2020)

Under Article 3 of the Birds Directive (1), Member States shall take measures to preserve, maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats for all the species of birds protected by the directive, including its upkeep and management in accordance with the ecological needs inside and outside the protected zones.

Under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive (2), Member States must ensure that any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site be subject to an appropriate assessment of its implications for the site(s) concerned. Such plan or project can only be approved after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the sites concerned.

In addition, the Habitats Directive requires Member States to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of the natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of the directive.

In order to assist the Member States to implement the abovementioned legislation, the Commission has issued guidance on the provisions of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive (3).

Without prejudice to the Commission’s role as Guardian of the Treaties, it is the responsibility of Member States to make sure that the above requirements in relation to Natura 2000 sites management and protection of habitats of wild birds are respected.

The Commission focuses its enforcement action in a strategic way (4) whereas, when citizens face individual instances of incorrect application of EC law, redress can often be found more adequately at national level.

⋅1∙ Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds. (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7‐25).

⋅2∙ Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992).

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/docs/art6/EN_art_6_guide_jun_2019.pdf

⋅4∙ Communication from the Commission — EC law: Better results through better application, C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10‐20.