The mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, recently held discussions in Brussels with Claudia Olazábal, the head of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment. The meeting focused on issues related to water sustainability, drought management, flooding, and nature-based urban solutions, including the La Marjal park at Playa de San Juan.
Barcala described Olazábal's announcement of specific European funding lines for the Alicante Agua Circular project as an "excellent news". This funding is intended to support the ambitious water management programme after the central government returned resources initially allocated for it.
During the meeting, Barcala presented Alicante as a model of Mediterranean resilience and circular economy, capable of transforming wastewater into a stable resource for agriculture, thereby reducing pressure on other sources and improving the environmental state of the coastline.
The Alicante Agua Circular project, driven by the city council and Aguas de Alicante, includes initiatives worth over €104 million, aimed at achieving 100% reuse of treated water and zero discharge into coastal waters. Proposed solutions include new floodable parks in Casa Mediterráneo and Calle Teulada, as well as new collectors in Calle Arpón, San Gabriel, and Gran Vía, along with 13 new stormwater tanks across the city.
Barcala explained, "We have presented the Alicante Agua Circular project to the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission, detailing how the city council is executing its part. Unfortunately, we lost the European funds that were due to the Spanish government, which had to renounce them for failing to meet deadlines."
The mayor also discussed potential collaboration or funding from the European Commission for the Vertido Cero project, which aims to close the water cycle through the treatment, storage, and reuse of treated water from the Rincón de León and Monte Orgegia stations, preventing it from being discharged into the sea and utilising up to 30 cubic hectometres annually.
During his official visit to the EU capital, Barcala attended the 173rd Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions, where he engaged with the President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, and the Vice President of Aragón, Mar Vaquero. The plenary session focused on promoting the European Entrepreneurial Regions and Cities Awards, which recognise territories with outstanding strategies to support innovation, SMEs, and competitiveness.
On the second day of his Brussels trip, Barcala is set to attend the Mayor's Pact for Climate and Energy summit and the award ceremony for the New European Bauhaus 2026, which La Marjal is vying for. The city council of Alicante is part of the European initiative for the Climate and Energy Pact, where municipalities commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting safety measures.
Barcala concluded, "Once again, Alicante aims to lead innovation and sustainability initiatives within European cities, seeking recognition in the New European Bauhaus, an initiative by the European Commission that aims to blend art, culture, science, and technology to transform our cities and urban spaces, forming part of the European Green Deal."
