MEP César Luena (S&D) has raised concerns over persistent waste management failures in Spain's La Rioja region, questioning the European Commission on compliance with EU waste legislation, use of EU funds, and the region's heavy reliance on landfilling. The written parliamentary question, submitted on 23 April 2026, follows a recent fire at the Nájera landfill, which Luena says exposes recurrent shortcomings in monitoring, transparency, and compliance with environmental permit conditions.
The question highlights that the fire is the latest in a series of incidents and negative inspection reports, reflecting a systemic over-reliance on landfill that contradicts the EU's 2035 target of limiting municipal waste landfilling to 10% of total waste generated. Luena also flags concerns about waste shipments from other countries or regions without proper recovery, and a lack of effective prevention, reuse, and recycling measures.
first, what it makes of compliance with EU waste legislation in regions, particularly regarding monitoring, inspection, and proper management of landfill sites; second, how it ensures that EU funds are used to reduce waste generation and encourage reuse and recycling over landfilling; and third, whether the current reliance on landfilling in regions such as La Rioja is in line with EU objectives, and what action it intends to take to remedy the situation.
As a written parliamentary question under Rule 144, the Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the Commission's view on regional compliance and potential enforcement or funding conditionality. The question targets the interests of local residents affected by landfill incidents, regional authorities responsible for waste management, EU taxpayers funding regional development, and waste management operators facing potential regulatory tightening.
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