In Spain, the Diputación de Huesca submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism seeking funding through the Plan for Improvement, Transformation and Resilience (PRTR). This initiative is a collaborative project led by Aramón, the public-private company that runs the ski slopes in Aragón, alongside Mancomunidad del Aran, with the aim of linking Candanchú, Astún, and Formigal into a single ski destination. The project carries a price tag near 34 million euros, added to the roughly 30 million euros requested in earlier phases. A government minister confirmed in media briefings that financing this magnitude is possible under the plan.
Environmental and social groups from Aragón—Friends of the Earth, Ecologists in Action, Greenpeace, SEO/BirdLife, and WWF—held a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism this week. Their message was clear: they oppose the use of European funds to back the Candanchú, Astún, and Formigal ski complex, arguing that the project would divert resources away from other pressing needs and fail to align with climate and habitat protection goals. These organizations said they would monitor the use of PRTR funds and, if needed, report concerns to the Ecological Transition Office and the European Union for potential misallocation of funds.
In several statements, the groups noted that the project could conflict with climate projections and threaten sensitive mountain habitats, raising questions about environmental safeguards. They argued that the initiative might contravene the principle of not causing significant harm to the environment and warned that financing could be inappropriate under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).
Officials described the broader plan as including infrastructure investments estimated at more than 60 million euros, to be financed through PRTR funds distributed by the Ministry. The government had announced a 33 million euro allocation for PRTR Tourism Sustainability Plans in Aragon late last year, highlighting a larger vision for regional tourism development.
The NGOs criticized what they described as the inconsistency of using the same funds to support competing projects, warning that if the ski project proceeds, ecosystems that are already highly vulnerable could suffer. They pointed to warnings from the Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory about the environmental costs of increased artificial snow production, which would raise energy use and threaten wetlands in the region.
Under the NGOs’ stance, if financing continues, the groups say they will engage with the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to ensure environmental protections are upheld and to notify the European Union of any potential misuse of European funds. They pressed authorities to reject the financing of the Aragonese ski resort consortium and to pause the project for a more sustainable path forward.
The government defends it
Speaking to reporters, the Minister of State for Tourism expressed support for uniting the ski resorts. He stated that the eventual union of Astún and Candanchú, followed by Formigal, would elevate Aragón among the world’s premier winter destinations and help position the region as a top choice for mountain and nature tourism on international markets. The leadership of Aramón also signaled ongoing investments to expand the slopes through the remainder of the current season, in coordination with the Union of stations in the Aragon and Tena valleys, while a second project explores new opportunities under Next Generation European funds.
If the project advances, the resulting ski area could rival the scale of major Alpine resorts. A full public statement from the signatory organizations was referenced as available at a marked source. The discussion continues as regional planners assess the long-term implications for tourism, energy consumption, and habitat protection in the Pyrenees.
Further information is being compiled by regional environmental authorities and policy offices to ensure a balanced assessment of economic benefits against ecological risks. The dialogue includes ongoing scrutiny of how European recovery funds are deployed and whether any project aligns with climate resilience goals for vulnerable mountain ecosystems.
Notes and documentation regarding environmental assessments are being prepared for formal review by relevant agencies, with attention to how the plan aligns with national and EU-level environmental commitments.
Endnotes and official statements from participating organizations were referenced in communications, and continued updates are anticipated as the situation develops.
Contact details for the environment department have been provided for stakeholder inquiries within the appropriate channels.