The platform against the Midcat cross-border gas pipeline has been reactivated on both sides of the Pyrenees. Environmentalists warn that they will mobilize to prevent the interconnection from becoming a reality and regret the pressure from the European Parliament and leaders such as the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, or the German chancellor Olaf Scholz to go ahead with the project. This Wednesday, the entities of Northern Catalonia and the Girona counties held a press conference to show their opposition to the pipeline and assured that the arguments are “exactly the same” that ended with the withdrawal of the project in 2020. “It is unnecessary, absurd and a climate attack”, said Philippe Assens.
The platform is being reborn, although they say they would rather not have to. It was already established: “After the relaunch of the cross-border gas pipeline project by the European Parliament, the collective ‘No to Midcat’ is reactivated”. The platform brings together entities, administrations and political parties that five years ago opposed the project, which stalled in 2019 and ceased to be a strategic infrastructure for the European Parliament in 2020. Now, the spokespersons Philippe Assens, Eric Lebalier and Barbara Schmitt urges to strengthen the opposition to the pipeline and assure that the arguments are “exactly the same”.
Opponents of Midcat consider that the only reason to unearth the project is the geopolitical change following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and energy supply problems, especially in northern Europe. This, however, they believe does not justify a pharaonic, “absurd”, economically unsustainable work which they describe as “climaticide”.
Midcat Response Platform and Non au zazoduct cross-border advise that they are attentive to the next steps and that, if it is confirmed that the project goes ahead, they will take action. Wednesday’s press conference comes just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa to discuss Midcat. For now, Macron is not succumbing to pressure (also from the European Parliament and the German chancellor) and maintains the ‘no’ on infrastructure.
Barbara Schmitt has also urged the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, to explain publicly why ERC has changed its mind in relation to the gas pipeline: “ERC is listed as a member of the Midcat Response Platform five years ago and now there is in favor, what has changed apart from the political situation”.
Among the arguments they deploy to oppose interconnection are that they consider it a climate attack and “useless” infrastructure. Schmitt has remarked that on both sides of the Pyrenees there have already been other interconnections made with “lies”, such as the MAT, and he emphasizes that the population must not be deceived by leaders who claim that they are necessary: ”In south of the Pyrenees they know a lot about building large infrastructures that are of no use”.