WWF reports Spain to EU over Balearic beaches

The World Wildlife Fund/Adena yesterday officially reported the Spanish government to the European Union over its Balearic beach regeneration project. The regeneration of the beaches damaged by the November storms has caused much controversy, especially the artificial beach regeneration plans ordered by the Ministry for the Environment and the Minister Jaume Matas. Protests have been staged by environmentalists in a bid to stop the dredging off Banyalbufar and the Balearic government has also challenged Madrid over the operation which opponents say is causing untold damage to the sea bed and the marine life. According to the WWF/Adena, the beach regeneration projects breach environmental legislation. In the official complaint to Brussels, WWF/Adena says that the Balearic dredging operation is causing widespread damage to protected areas which can never be repaired. WWF/Adena says that the operation was given the all clear by Madrid on the grounds that the beaches had to be ready by May 1, a deadline which has long passed, using urgency as an excuse. The international organisation has also drawn the European Union's attention to the fact that Spain carries out the harmful dredging and beach regeneration projects every year. The environmental body wants to see the project halted and a full study carried out of the damage which has already been caused to the Balearic coastline and an investigation to find an alternative solution. The Balearic Environment Minister, Margalida Rossello, is adamantly against the dredging operation and initially said that the beaches will not be artificially regenerated. In a desperate bid to have the beaches ready for the summer season, Jaume Matas went behind her back and gave the green line for the dredging in order to repair the beach at Can Picafort.