Catalonia shares concerns over Mediterranean oil prospecting

Catalonia's minister for sustainability, Josep Rull, pledged to work in favour of the declaration of a migratory corridor for cetaceans in the western Mediterranean as a specially protected area of Mediterranean importance. The sea between the Balearics and the eastern Spanish coasts of Catalonia and Valencia would, under this, receive a new level of protection that would help to prevent exploration projects.

During the meeting, there was discussion regarding technical co-operation with Catalonia in respect of making environmental impact statements, drawing on Catalonia's experience in developing reports against exploration. Consideration was also given to the drafting of the law on a Mediterranean free of prospecting, something that is due to be placed before Congress.

The Balearic government, along with the island councils and the Mar Blava alliance, is pursuing a strategy of forming alliances with other administrations, all with the aim of ending prospecting and making the Mediterranean free of the threats of oil exploration. There is, for instance, a protocol with the Valencia government to this end.

The regional government feels that the current acting national government has been extending concessions for exploration which go against this aim.