On behalf of the Palmaria-APS Association, bearing 4 signatures, against the adoption of the Action Plan for redevelopment of Palmaria Island 

The petitioners object to the procedure for approving an action plan (‘Masterplan’) as part of the consultations between state, regional and local for the revival and redevelopment of Palmaria Island (Gulf of La Spezia). In this regard, they point out that: (a) the island is part of the Portovenere Regional Nature Park in both its land and marine parts (it belongs to the Natura 2000 network); (b) the habitat and some endemic flora species fall under the protection of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EC); (c) the Masterplan is concealing a general plan which would open the door to a high number of upmarket hotels and residential facilities and would disrupt the current vocation of the island, which is enjoyed mostly by day-trippers and culture-lovers and has a very small residential area. The aim of this is to avoid having to subject the urban redevelopment of Palmaria Island to strategic environmental assessment (SEA), not to mention debate and public participation (pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC). In particular, the petitioners take the view that the case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU (judgment of 7/6/18 in case C160-17) can also be applied to the case of the Masterplan in question as regards the redevelopment of Palmaria Island Lastly, the petitioners poins out that the alternative proposals made by various associations, which were made during a phase in which the public were able to participate, prior to the Masterplan, not only were not included in that plan, but were not even taken into account in the technical and explanatory report. They therefore take the view that EU legislation on public participation (Directive 2003/35/EC) has also been infringed. For all the above reasons she is calling for infringement proceedings to be initiated.