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Euronews
11-07-2025
- General
- Euronews
Landmark ruling says Spanish pig farm pollution breaches human rights
A Spanish court has made a crucial ruling today regarding a landmark case on livestock megapollution in the region of Galicia. In a legal first, Spanish citizens launched court action earlier this year against national and regional authorities over intensive pig-rearing. The residents say the mismanagement of pollution from decades of industrial pig farming has made life in their community 'unfeasible' - and is putting their health at risk. The High Court of Galicia has now confirmed that Spanish national and regional authorities have breached residents' human rights according to both the Spanish Constitution and European human rights law. The court ruled that authorities have failed to manage record levels of pollution from hundreds of pig and poultry farms in the A Limia region. The Xunta de Galicia and the Miño-Sil River Basin Authority have been ordered to immediately adopt all necessary measures to guarantee the end of the odours and environmental degradation of the As Conchas reservoir and its surroundings, restoring the full enjoyment of the right to life. Pig farms have turned the town into a 'dungheap' The ruling is a critical step in recognising that the devastating impacts of industrial agriculture are not just policy issues - they are human rights issues. Years of unexplained health complaints, severe algal blooms and acute odour pollution in the A Limia region of Galicia left businesses floundering and locals fearful to leave their homes. The culprits are the hundreds of intensive pig and poultry farms operating thanks to rubber-stamp approvals from the local authority. The pollution from these livestock operations has made residents too afraid to drink water from their local wells or open their windows for fear of the stench. As Friends of the Earth representative Blanca Ruibal, who has been supporting the case, succinctly puts it, '[the town] has become a dungheap.' Court finds A Limia residents are 'undeniably experiencing ongoing moral harm' Seven affected residents, the Neighbourhood Association of As Conchas and the Confederation of Users and Consumers (CECU) were supported by ClientEarth and Friends of the Earth to take the case to court, bringing a claim against multiple local authorities, including the Xunta de Galicia and water authorities. During the court hearings, scientists corroborated their suspicions about the extent of the pollution, presenting evidence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs - considered one of the top ten threats to humanity. They also found serious nitrate contamination in the reservoir water (at times reaching levels of up to 1,000x higher than typical levels). Nitrates are a well-known risk factor for numerous cancers, including thyroid, breast and ovarian cancer. In the landmark ruling, published today, the court said: 'Human rights and environmental protection are interdependent. A sustainable environment is necessary for the full enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to life, to an adequate standard of living, to drinking water and sanitation, to housing, to participation in cultural life and to development. 'Residents of the village of As Conchas who live in the affected area are found to be in a serious situation concerning their enjoyment of daily life. This includes the presence of foul odours, the risk of aerosol exposure, contamination of private wells to levels that render them unusable, loss of property value, and a severe potential health risk… the court finds that they are undeniably experiencing ongoing moral harm.' 'This historic ruling makes us stronger' This case ruling on the impact of agriculture-compromised water on people's fundamental rights is the first of its kind, drawing on both the Spanish constitution and European law to demonstrate that public authorities did not meet their legal obligation to protect people – including from harmful pollution. 'After so many years of tireless struggle, of being abandoned and ignored by those who were supposed to protect us, today we have finally been heard,' Pablo Álvarez Veloso, president of the local neighbourhood association and a claimant in the case, said. 'The High Court of Justice of Galicia has recognised what we have been denouncing for so long: our rights have been violated due to the inaction of the authorities against the pollution from industrial livestock farming.' He added that the historic ruling 'makes us stronger', and the community won't stop until the reservoir 'becomes a place of life once again - a place where we can walk, swim, and drink water without fear'. Lawyers say the case now paves the way for suffering communities to bring replica suits across Europe, to demand justice and protection from their authorities.
Euronews
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
From Spain to Sweden: European countries diverge on religious symbols in public office
ADVERTISEMENT In the heart of Germany's capital, a heated political debate has reignited over the boundaries of religious freedom in the public sphere. The Bundestag's Green Party group has submitted a motion to abolish Berlin's Neutrality Act ("Neutralitätsgesetz"), a law that prohibits public employees — including teachers, police officers, and judicial staff — from wearing visible religious symbols while on duty. The proposal has thrust Berlin into a larger European conversation about the intersection of secularism, religious freedom, and workplace neutrality. Across the continent, different legal and cultural approaches highlight a lack of consensus on whether religious symbols — most notably, Islamic headscarves and veils — should be allowed in state institutions. In a divided Europe, national identities, historical experiences, and political priorities deeply influence how societies respond to religious expression in public life. From blanket bans in Belgium and France to more permissive stances in Sweden and Spain, the continent's handling of the issue remains a study in contrast. Where some nations have aimed for neutrality, others are prioritising inclusion — and many are struggling to find a balance between the two. Spain: Legal silence, local discretion Spain lacks national legislation on the issue, leaving decisions to the discretion of schools and institutions. In 2013, the Supreme Court backed a Madrid high school's decision to exclude a hijab-wearing student, setting a precedent but not a standard. While Islamic groups have stressed that the Spanish Constitution and a 1992 cooperation agreement together protect the right to wear religious attire, the Ministry of Education has not prioritised national guidance, arguing that such cases are rare and manageable at the local level. France: Secularism as state doctrine France enforces one of the continent's most rigid interpretations of secularism. All public-sector workers — from civil servants to interns — must refrain from expressing religious, philosophical, or political beliefs in any visible manner. This strict neutrality is not just a policy, but a pillar of the French Republic, designed to preserve an impartial public sphere. Belgium: Security and cohesion over visibility Belgium has implemented some of Europe's strictest measures regarding face coverings. In 2011, it became the second country after France to ban full-face veils in public, justifying the move on the grounds of public safety and social integration. Though only a small number of women in Belgium wear the niqab or burqa, the European Court of Human Rights upheld the ban in 2017, ruling that it aligned with broader principles of gender equality and public order. Portugal: Legal neutrality, selective application Portugal doesn't explicitly ban religious symbols but permits institutions — both public and private — to enforce neutral dress codes, as long as these are applied uniformly. ADVERTISEMENT The aim is to protect employees from religious pressure while ensuring that workplaces remain ideologically neutral. Austria: Expanding the scope of the ban Austria followed suit with a 2017 law banning face coverings in public spaces, including Islamic veils and any item obscuring facial features, such as helmets and masks. The government cited public safety and social cohesion. Although a proposal to extend the ban to young girls in schools emerged, the Constitutional Court struck down part of this legislation in 2020, ruling that banning headscarves for girls under 10 was discriminatory. Denmark: A blanket ban on face coverings Denmark enacted a full ban on face coverings in all public places in 2018. The law, which prohibits any clothing that conceals the face — including burqas and niqabs — has been justified primarily on grounds of public identification and societal transparency. ADVERTISEMENT Netherlands: Partial restrictions in key institutions In the Netherlands, a 2019 law restricts face coverings in specific public settings — such as schools, hospitals, and public transport — where clear communication and identification are deemed essential. While not a total ban, it reflects a growing inclination toward regulating religious expression in state spaces. Italy: A law from another era Italy does not have a specific ban on religious dress, but a 1975 anti-terrorism law prohibits face coverings in public. Though originally unrelated to religious attire, this law has occasionally been invoked to restrict the niqab and burqa in certain public or security-sensitive environments. ADVERTISEMENT Sweden: Freedom first, local pushback Sweden has no national ban on religious attire, and the veil remains permitted across public life. The national approach favours individual rights, though some municipalities have attempted to impose school-specific restrictions, citing integration and gender equality. These moves have sparked debate but have not yet reshaped national policy. Greece: Legal protections with practical limits Greek law offers robust anti-discrimination protections based on religion across employment and public services. Yet, practice has sometimes told a more complicated story. In one 2022 case, a hospital barred a nursing student from wearing a headscarf during her internship, citing uniform regulations. The Greek Ombudsman ruled the policy did not violate anti-discrimination laws, framing it as a dress code issue, not a religious one. Bulgaria: A ban with exceptions Bulgaria introduced a nationwide ban on face coverings in public in 2016, citing security and societal cohesion. While the law allows for health or occupational exceptions, it reflects broader efforts to regulate visible expressions of Islamic faith. ADVERTISEMENT The hijab, which leaves the face uncovered, remains permitted and is still commonly worn by Muslim women across the country.
