Environment: Commission issues stern warnings over mitigation measures for protected site at Barajas airport, and nature conservation shortcomings in Portugal and Spain

The European Commission sent Spain a final written warning about nature protection measures at Barajas airport. Spain has failed to implement additional steps it promised to mitigate the effects of the extension to the airport on a Natura 2000 site next to the airport. Separate warning letters are being sent to Spain and Portugal for other failures to take sufficient measures to protect nature. The cases concern the failure to designate a number of protected areas in the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores, as well as adopt the necessary conservation measures