They knew that this great infrastructure, which had been regarded as a fishing port that was once to be placed on the map of Mutriku, was not going to be able to be done as they designed it, as was clearly stated in the 1999 Environment Report. That is why you fragmented that great project and presented it in phases, in order to mitigate its impact on its execution and turn that clumsy concrete group into a project that gradually would engulble the citizens.

I recall that one of the councillors of his party publicly regarded the project as a disaster in Mutriku, and that he ignored an environmental lawyer who defined and explained the illegal actions being carried out, as is the case with the PNV. I would also like to point out that the Mutriku City Hall mentioned the annulment of any hint of reflection, with the name "Everything or nothing".

Disregarding the voices of disagreement and the arguments, work began in 2004 and 3 years later they were paralysed, arguing that the full economic package (some EUR 40 million) had ended. For more than 15 years they have left the beautiful and wonderful maritime area as if it were a landfill and, following the reorganisation of the traditional fishing port, a single job has been created that can cause chills.

But Mrs Tapia decides, almost two decades later, and without giving any concrete explanation to the population, she has now decided to resume the project called “end of the dam”. Why? Again, because there are EUR 20 million of public money coming from the sky, to waste on jobs that go against the minds of the Mutriku and the visitors to whom patience is already over.

As there is no transparent information, and thanks to one or another statement from you, it seems that you are not going to be satisfied with the statements that have been made publicly (now the dam ends, then the future ones, “the project is expired”…) and that you are going to build another marina in Mutriku, which would already be the second.

It is clear, however, that you do what you do, that it will have a negative impact on all bathers (of course, until the traditional pool environment is cemented and all the space between the Drum and Mollaberri forbid bathing), because the waters will reproduce little, for all surfers, for their impact on the wave of Alkolea, because it will condemn the citizens and visitors of the town, and so on. For all these reasons, we hope that the Basque Government, on this occasion, will have due respect, humility and democratic quality, to take account of the real opinion of the people on this project and work that will forever change the lives of the Mutriku people.

We also request the Ministry of the Environment to review the information submitted by the Basque Government to the coastal demarcation to justify the external port and that, if it finds that what was presented in its day (New Fishing Port) does not coincide with what is now intended to be built, proceed immediately to withdraw the award that allowed the start of the works.

We would also like to remind UNESCO that since 2015 Mutriku has been part of its World Geopark. That is why we urge UNESCO to demand that the Basque Government halt the project, which was approved in 2004, when Geoparque did not even exist, and it has become clear that the authorisations granted at that time do not correspond to the current situation and obligations.

Finally, we urge Mr Beumer to do so. Mayor of Mutriku should, as soon as possible, convene a binding referendum so that the people decide whether they want to continue the project or end up in the dyke area and heal the surrounding area. It is no use to use the argument that we are late, even less when we do not recognise it publicly, when we suspect that since Mrs Tapia and Mr Erkoreka visited the port of Mutriku in July 2021 they were aware of the evolution of this project. And if you do not, Mr Mayor, we hope that your party (EH Bildu) will demand it, because your statutes say so: “Strategic decision-making requires the promotion of direct democracy, promoting and conducting popular referendums and consultations.”

Binding referendum now in Mutriku.

Joseba Mugerza Goiburu, representing the group “Danborzaleak”.