Next Stop: Barcelona-El Prat
Connecting citizens, protecting our planet.
European Parliament, Brussels,
Spinelli 5E1.
Watch it live
These sessions were created with the aim of bringing the debate on the expansion of El Prat Airport and its serious environmental, territorial, and climate impacts to the European institutions. The objective is to raise awareness among the Catalan public about the European debate on sustainable mobility and air transport, which questions the excessive growth of airports in the midst of the climate crisis. In addition, the event will provide an opportunity to build networks and learn first-hand about other European experiences of social mobilization against similar expansion projects.
Wednesday 1 July
15:30 h – 17:00 h
This opening workshop will establish the institutional and legal foundations of the debate, analysing how European transport policies and infrastructure directly impact protected natural areas and exploring strategies to halt unsustainable megaprojects.
European frameworks and experiences in transport infrastructure and natural spaces.
Speakers:
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Candela López (Comuns): National Coordinator of Comuns, Member of the Spanish Congress, and Vice-President of the Barcelona Provincial Council.
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Vicent Marzà (MEP, Compromís): Member of the European Parliament for The Greens/EFA. Known for his strong commitment to defending local territories and for being a leading voice against the expansion of the Port of Valencia.
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Marc Giménez (European Green Party): Adviser and member of The Greens in the European Parliament. He brings a strategic perspective on EU green policies related to mobility and infrastructure.
Moderator: Jaume Asens (MEP, Comuns) Member of the European Parliament and host of these sessions. He works to align civil rights with environmental regulations and the ecological transition.
European frameworks and experiences in transport infrastructure and natural spaces (Continuation of the Civil Society Workshop)
Participating organisations:
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Depana: League for the Defence of Natural Heritage, a historic Catalan environmental organisation focused on biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.
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PTP (Association for the Promotion of Public Transport): Organisation exclusively dedicated to defending, improving and promoting collective public transport as the backbone of sustainable mobility.
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CCOO: Trade union that brings the perspective of workers and advocates for a fair ecological transition in the mobility sector.
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Zeroport: Grassroots environmental platform created specifically to oppose the expansion of Barcelona Airport and Port.
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Ecologistes en Acció: Confederation of environmental groups that promotes social ecology and actively denounces the impacts of the current transport model.
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Stay Grounded: Global network of initiatives working to reduce air traffic and build a transport system that respects planetary boundaries.
Moderator: Encarni García (Councillor of Viladecans)
Wednesday 1 July
17:30 h – 19:00 h
Following the political perspective and expert assessment, this second session gives centre stage to civil society. It will be a space for collaborative work to build alliances and articulate ecological, neighbourhood and trade union resistance strategies against the threat of airport expansion.
Thursday 2 July
09:00 h – 11:00 h
“Spain is heading in the wrong direction” offers a critical reflection on the gap between current policies and the challenges of the ecological transition. The discussion will address the strategies needed to reorient the mobility model, combining legislative action in Brussels with environmental commitment. It will be an opportunity to analyse how to halt unsustainable inertia and promote real alternatives for the future.
Spain is heading in the wrong direction.
Speakers:
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Jaume Asens (MEP, Comuns): “Presentation and actions from Brussels.” Member of the European Parliament and a strong advocate for ecological transition policies, social justice and the defence of local communities within European institutions.
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Mario Rodríguez (ECODES): “Spain can move in a sustainable direction.” Expert in just transition, sustainability and environmental policy.
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Denise Auclair (Transport & Environment): “Europe needs and wants a different mobility model.” Representative of T&E, the leading European think tank in clean and sustainable transport, with its headquarters in Brussels.
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Tilly Metz (MEP, Déi Gréng): “We stopped them before; together we can stop them again.” Member of the European Parliament closely involved in the adoption of the European Regulation on railway capacity management.
Moderator: Candela López (National Coordinator of Comuns)
Barcelona–El Prat Airport Expansion, Spanish Government: When Did Common Sense Get Lost?
Speakers:
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Alba Bou (Mayor of El Prat): “The concrete consequences of the expansion and the efforts already undertaken by El Prat.” Representative of El Prat City Council, leading the institutional defence of the Llobregat Delta and territorial balance.
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Gemma Tarafa (National Coordinator of Comuns): “There is an alternative: Catalonia’s airport system.”Political leader of Comuns and public health expert, advocating for a sustainable transport model that does not compromise citizens’ health or other environmental priorities.
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Cristina Sánchez (Delegate of BirdLife Catalonia): “You are not alone: defending the delta is a European cause.” Catalan Delegate of one of Europe’s leading organisations dedicated to nature conservation and the protection of birds and their habitats.
Moderator: Rafa Duarte (Councillor of El Prat)
Thursday 2 July
11:30 h – 13:00 h
This second panel opens an essential debate on the environmental, territorial and public health impacts that this project would entail. The session will confront state-level decisions with the urgent need to propose sustainable alternatives and protect the Llobregat Delta from both a local and European perspective. It will be an opportunity to put ecological common sense and the defence of the territory back at the centre of the discussion in the face of unsustainable development models.
Watch it live
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