Category Archives: Politics

Barcelona Airport Struggle: Decades of building broad alliances

The decades-old conflict around El Prat airport and the destruction of the Llobregat Delta is one of Europe’s most important environmental justice struggles. The conflict entered a new stage, with airport expansion plans being put back on the table in June 2025. An article by Franziska Schmidt, with input and feedback from Ariadna Cotén, Zeroport. […]

Flemish government becomes largest shareholder of Brussels Airport

The Flemish regional government is investing 2.77 billion euros in Brussels Airport. To do so, it is buying the shares of global investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) in Brussels Airport Company. OTPP is pulling out of airports as it is drastically ‘greening’ its investment portfolio under pressure from its teacher community (https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/about-us/news-and-insights/2025/ontario-teachers-reaches-agreement-to-sell-stake-in-brussels-airport-to-pmv/ ). Flanders, […]

Dutch brawl over airport noise sets tone for rest of Europe

The Dutch government is moving to limit flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, but that’s angering activists ánd the aviation industry. Enraged neighbours want the noise cut. Airlines and the city want it to remain a crucial hub. The fight has entangled the central government, Amsterdam’s city administration, the courts, local activists, airlines and business groups, the […]

Amsterdam supports residents for 100,000 fewer flights

PVA, a Dutch action group, welcomes Position Paper for Schiphol shrinkage We are pleased that the municipality of Amsterdam considers the shrinkage of the airport inevitable in its Position Paper on Schiphol. The municipality acknowledges that the interests of local residents and employees have been ignored for too long. As a result, the municipality’s pursuit […]

Schiphol, KLM, Transavia and the Dutch state are being sued for assault

Residents of Schiphol are going to file a complaint of assault for years of sleep deprivation due to serious noise pollution. They believe that the sleep disturbance is an attack on the health of the victims. The case is also being filed against the Dutch state, as the largest shareholder of Schiphol, and against KLM […]

Amsterdam becomes ‘activist shareholder’ of Schiphol

The city council of Amsterdam demands that Schiphol airport shrink to 400,000 flights. The city council also wants a complete night closure from 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Amsterdam is not only a neighbouring municipality of the airport, but also a co-owner. The city owns 20 percent of the shares of Schiphol Group. The rest […]

Local residents of Schiphol after court ruling: ‘Finally recognition’

Violation of the European Convention on Human Rights According to the court, people living near Schiphol have not been sufficiently protected against the noise pollution caused by aircraft for years. The state thus acted unlawfully. A group of local residents, united in the Foundation for the Right to Protection against Aircraft Nuisance (RBV), had initiated […]

UECNA at the table in Brussels to advocate flight reduction for Schiphol

The reduction plan of Dutch Minister Harbers does not go far enough for residents of the Schiphol region, but it is a unique step in the right direction. Everybody is waiting for the European Commission, which must determine whether the Netherlands has followed the correct Balanced Approach procedure to be allowed to make such a […]

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