Spanish farmers protest delays in Doñana restoration aid

More than two and a half years after the Spain‑Andalusia agreement on the Doñana restoration, farmers in the Condado area remain without a final decision or any payments from the aid programme. The first call, worth €28.5 million for the renaturalisation of up to 400 hectares, has been hampered by “innumerable administrative obstacles, lack of information and absence of a technical interlocutor,” according to the Platform in Defence of the Condado Irrigated Lands.

Spokesperson Manuel Mora described the situation as a “desastre” and “incomprensible e injustificable,” accusing the administrations of announcing investments while leaving farmers with no clear procedure. He urged authorities to allow correction of material errors, accept alternative documentation, and create a reserve list of complete dossiers that could be funded if budget becomes available. The platform has been waiting over two months for a meeting with the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority to clarify pending sanctions and regularisation steps. The farmers warn they can no longer endure further delays, promises or endless paperwork.

The dispute highlights tensions over the implementation of the Doñana pact, the lack of a dedicated helpline, and the perceived unequal treatment of agricultural aid compared with other government programmes.