The siege tightens against Teresa Riberain her ratification process as executive vice-president of the European Commission, now blocked, while information is multiplying that calls into question her work as Minister of Ecological Transition. His ministry was deposed last February for not notifying Brussels in full of its third river basin management plan and its second flood risk management plan, which must be communicated every six years.
Also this Thursday, the European Parliament condemned EU member states which, as Spain has not yet banned all imports of Russian fossil fuelsdespite the sanctions against the government of Vladimir Putinsince the beginning of the war of invasion of Ukraine. The plenary session of the European Parliament thus inflicted a new setback on the Minister of Ecological Transition.
This is precisely one of the questions that Ribera tried to avoid, leaving unanswered the specific questions asked to him during the hearing to which he was subjected on Tuesday by the European Parliament, in Brussels. The candidate for the post of European commissioner was questioned about the nearly 8 billion euros purchased by Spain in Russian gas since 2022. Ribera accused the “free market” of avoiding taking responsibility.
The Spanish People’s Party, which commands the offensive against Ribera in the European Parliament, which must decide whether she is suitable for the position for which she was appointed by Pedro Sanchez And Ursula von der Leyenasked the European Commission about this infringement file.
Brussels announced the sanction against Spain last February for not having presented the updated flood risk plan, in accordance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and the Directive 2007/60/EC on flood risks.
These directives guarantee “the qualitative and quantitative good health” of European rivers and lakes and They constitute an essential element of the European Green Dealwhich sets targets for reducing climate and pollution. According to this European legislation, Member States must update and submit reports every six years on their basin hydrological plans as well as flood prevention plans.
In her question, the spokesperson for the PP in the European Parliament and vice-president of the EPP Group, Dolors Montserratasks the Commission whether, in its opinion, if the Spanish government and European monitoring itself had been more diligent regarding the degree of compliance with the directives on water and flooding, The tragic effects of recent floods in Valencia could have been mitigated.
According to the text of the Floods Directive, flood risk management plans must focus on prevention, protection and preparation. “Elements of flood risk management plans should be reviewed periodically and, where necessary, updated, taking into account the likely impact of climate change on the incidence of flooding,” the text states.
To give “more room for rivers” to prevent flooding, governments should consider, where possible, maintaining or restoring floodplains, as well as measures to prevent and reduce harm to human healththe environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. This is precisely what the Riverside Ministry refused to do in 2021 in the Poyo Ravine, which caused the tragic DANA floods on October 29, for a “new cost-benefit vision”.
The development of basin hydrological plans in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC and flood risk management plans in accordance with Flood Directive These are elements of integrated watershed management. “direct responsibility of Ribera”according to popular Spaniards.
Russian gas
Last Tuesday, during her hearing before the European Parliament to request ratification as vice-president of the Commission, Ribera was accused of having allowed Spain spends more money to finance Putinon the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that by supporting Ukraine, by helping directly and militarily to defend itself from Russian aggression.
Thursday’s plenary session clarified this criticism in an approved resolution, very harsh on Spain. Parliament demands end to imports of Russian gas and nuclear products and urges Member States not to conclude new agreements with Rosatom nor with its directors or subsidiaries. Likewise, it demands that the Union imposes the obligation of that ships exporting Russian LNG be placed on the EU sanctions listdepriving them of access to EU ports and maritime services.
Between 2022 and 2023, Spain purchased 6.422 million euros of Russian gasand according to the latest data, as of August 2024, Spain had purchased 1.4 billion additional euros this year. In total, since the start of the war in Ukraine, the government has purchased gas from Russia with a total value of 7.822 million euros.
The deputy spokesperson of the Popular Party in Europe, Raúl De la Hoz, stressed that “while most European countries have achieved great efforts to reduce their dependence of gas and oil from Russia to comply with European sanctions, with Teresa Ribera at the head of energy of the Spanish government, our country continues to be one of the main European importers of Russian gas into the EU“.
The European Parliament denounced Thursday that European imports of Russian hydrocarbons, including LNG, They weaken sanctions against Russia and financial and military support for Ukraine..
In this resolution approved on the Russian fleet of “ghost tank”thanks to which Moscow escapes international sanctions on its energy exports, the European Parliament has also asked its member states to ban all imports of Russian fossil fuels, including LNG.
Point 15 of the resolution warns that the impact of current sanctions and financial and military support to Ukraine will continue to weaken as long as the Union continues to import Russian fossil fuels.
