Valencia’s government is pressing to safeguard dialogue channels with Madrid in a bid to resolve the longstanding water dispute, which has taken on near identity-defining significance for the region. The strategy also includes appealing to the Council of State over the decree shaping the future of the Tajo-Segura transfer. Located in southern Valencian territory, the move could prove pivotal in the regional elections scheduled for May.
In line with this approach, the Minister of Agriculture, Isaura Navarro, held a meeting yesterday with the Minister of State for the Environment and the deputy head of the Ministry of Ecological Transformation, Hugo Morán, who represented the Valencian government at the public demonstration against the water transfer cut.
As Navarro explained after the bilateral talks, the meeting offered an opportunity to address the government-autonomy tensions surrounding water policy before amendments proposed to the draft decree were approved by the National Water Council through the ninth supplementary provision. Navarro stressed that the Generalitat’s aim was to steer the process back toward reconciliation and constructive engagement.
Alicante stands before the Government and demands the immediate withdrawal of the cut in Tagus-Segura.
“We want a return from dialogue to reconciliation,” Navarro commented, reiterating her disagreement with Teresa Ribera’s portrayal of the ministry’s stance. Navarro noted that the document sent to the State Council did not mirror the text approved by the National Water Council and that the version presented to the government appeared to be a different draft after the bilateral discussion with Morán.
The minister added that, according to her understanding after the talks with Morán, the government had altered the Generalitat’s text. The National Water Council, she noted, had previously denied changes by the ministry. Navarro explained that the original document included the ninth additional clause, but it was modified following input from Castilla-La Mancha.
In favor of ecological flow
Meanwhile, the agricultural leadership clarified that the Generalitat is not opposed to establishing an ecological flow in the Tagus. The Ribera administration’s comments were described as not reflective of the position. “The flow must be determined by the river’s actual quality,” Navarro stated. “It would be nonsensical to invest in the river’s improvement if the flow is presumed to increase every year. The determination should be made annually.”
Concerning the disclosures raised with the Government’s advisory body, Navarro said that the regional government wished the Council of State to revert to the original wording. Nonetheless, as had been indicated by other Valencian leaders, Navarro left open the possibility of continuing the legal challenge if the view from the Council proved unfavorable.
Irrigators pay 264 euros per hour for their desalinated water crops in Torrevieja.
Regarding the allegations submitted to the State’s advisory board, Navarro emphasized that the Consell hopes the Council of State will return to the text initially approved. She also indicated that if the Council’s assessment is negative, the Generalitat is prepared to pursue further legal avenues to safeguard its water policy position.
The broader context sees Valencian authorities arguing that water policy must balance ecological considerations with practical needs of agriculture and regional livelihoods. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between national-level decrees and regional autonomy, a dynamic that continues to shape political calculations ahead of the upcoming elections.
Observers note that the discussions are not merely about water allocation but about how the region asserts its rights within the federation, how environmental protections are interpreted in practice, and how administrative processes can be used to foster or hinder reconciliation between authorities. The result could influence public perception of governance and the perceived responsiveness of regional leaders to local concerns, particularly in rural and agricultural communities where water access directly affects livelihoods.
Analysts suggest that the outcome may hinge on whether the Generalitat can secure clear linguistic and procedural assurances from the central government, ensuring that any amendments reflect regional realities while preserving the integrity of environmental protections. The interplay between dialogue and legal avenues is likely to remain a central theme as both sides navigate the path toward a sustainable and equitable water framework for the Tagus-Segura system, with potential implications for regional stability and policy momentum in the months ahead. (Source: regional government briefings, policy observers)