The Mayor of El Prat de Llobregat, Alba Bou, criticised the Catalan government and airport operator Aena. She accused them of completely sidelining her municipality in discussions about the proposed expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Bou claims her council was informed of the multi-billion euro project just one hour before its public announcement and has received no contact since.

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Speaking to El Periódico, Mayor Bou expressed profound frustration. She highlighted the lack of communication from either the Generalitat de Catalunya or Aena since President Salvador Illa unveiled the plans last June. “We feel undervalued,” she stated, stressing that her administration had not received “a single call” or “any consultation” on the matter.

A History of ‘Irresponsibility’

Bou, a prominent mayor for the Comuns political party in Catalonia, fundamentally opposes a third runway’s construction. She argues her municipality’s historically “responsible and supportive” role warrants its inclusion in any conversation. Bou insists the local council possesses significant “science” and expertise concerning mobility and the sensitive ecology of the Llobregat Delta, which is currently ignored.

Bou stated, “We can do nothing less than be angry.” She continued, “If the president calls me, I will clear my schedule. My main concern is that he understands why it is irresponsible to suggest the airport’s growth has no limits and to trample on municipal autonomy.”

The mayor also emphasised that El Prat primarily needs investment in its railway infrastructure, not the airport itself. This stance highlights a deep political division: Illa’s Socialist government considers the airport expansion non-negotiable, yet for their budget partners, the Comuns, it is an absolute anathema. As Aena’s expansion plan has advanced, this local dissent has grown increasingly vocal.

The European Hurdle

A long-standing environmental dispute with the European Union further compounds the controversy. Aena recently began remedial works near the airport, aiming to satisfy environmental compensation measures the European Commission demanded. These measures relate to the ecological damage from the last major airport expansion nearly two decades ago.

In 2021, the Commission opened an infringement procedure against Spain for “inadequate protection” of the Llobregat Delta, a designated Natura 2000 protected site. Until this issue is resolved, any new large-scale project in the area faces a significant obstacle. Aena’s current efforts, such as removing concrete from former parking areas at Can Sabadell, aim to demonstrate progress to Brussels and unblock the new expansion plan.

‘A Facelift They Won’t Get Away With’

Mayor Bou remains deeply sceptical of these moves, dismissing them as a superficial attempt to curry favour with EU regulators. She remarked, “Both the government and Aena know this and are trying to find alternatives to convince the European Union of the ‘good intentions’ the Generalitat has,” adding that her municipality “cannot live on good intentions.”

“I have full confidence that the European Commission will not trust them either and will require some science… They won’t pull the wool over our eyes.”

Bou alleges the current environmental works are merely a “facelift”. She also points to internal disagreements between the government and Aena on how best to proceed. Reports suggest the Generalitat wants Aena to purchase and restore degraded private land, while the airport operator prefers to focus on re-naturalising its existing footprint. Bou concluded, “Playing Monopoly or Risk with a territory as fragile as this is an absolute irresponsibility. I have full confidence that they will not succeed because we have the scientific arguments to prevent this disaster.”