Joint Manifesto Signed at Vila-seca Castle

On Monday 5 October 2026, the mayors of municipalities surrounding the petrochemical complex in Tarragona signed a formal manifesto calling on the Generalitat to disclose the real chemical risks posed by industrial activity and the transit of hazardous goods. The document was signed during a meeting held at Vila-seca castle, attended by the mayors of Vila-seca, Tarragona, Constantí, la Canonja, la Pobla de Mafumet, el Morell, and Vilallonga del Camp, along with Salou’s first deputy mayor. The mayors of Reus and Perafort also endorsed the agreement. The collective action underscores growing concern among local leaders about their limited access to risk assessments that directly impact public safety and urban planning decisions.

Five Key Demands Sent to Regional Government

In the manifesto, the mayors outline five principal demands, most of which require intervention from the Generalitat:

  • A territorial risk strategy with dynamic mapping of danger zones
  • Prioritisation of investments and systematic use of best available technology to reduce hazards
  • A dedicated policy for transporting dangerous goods through populated areas
  • Updating Catalonia’s regulatory framework to establish uniform risk management standards
  • Stable territorial governance with effective municipal participation

They have also formally requested a meeting with regional authorities to discuss these issues.

We must identify the risk, reduce it at source using all available technology, manage residual risk, and make it compatible with daily life and territorial development.

This statement was made by Vila-seca mayor Pere Segura, who highlighted how overlapping and inconsistent regulations place an unfair burden on local councils. He cited cases where railways carrying hazardous materials run alongside schools and homes without restriction, yet building new developments near such routes is prohibited due to perceived danger, a situation he described as "anomalous" and governed by discretionary decisions.

Concerns Over PLASEQTA Revision Process

The mayors expressed frustration over the latest revision of the Pla d’emergència exterior del sector químic de Tarragona (PLASEQTA), approved by the Generalitat earlier this year. According to official documents including the [Generalitat's resolution](https://govern.cat/gov/notes-premsa/654422/consellera-parlon-presenta-simulacre-del-plaseqta-que-tindra-lloc-proxim-4-desembre-al-poligon-quimic-nord-tarragona), the updated plan includes a network of chemical sensors and the Es-Alert emergency system. However, the mayors claim they were excluded from the consultation process. They pointed to a new annex in the revised PLASEQTA that requires special risk reports for public events in certain zones, reports that do not yet exist. This has created administrative uncertainty for town halls planning festivals or community gatherings. Segura stressed that the initiative is not anti-industry: "This is not a debate against industry, infrastructure, or safety. Public safety must always be the top priority, but we must ensure it coexists with residents’ daily lives, municipal development, and the continuity of a strategically vital industrial sector." The 587 chemical risk sensors around the petrochemical zone are now fully installed, according to [Protecció Civil updates](https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-premsa/671502/proteccio-civil-completa-installacio-sirenes-risc-quimic-arreu-catalunya-avanca-installacio-sensors-al-camp-tarragona), but local leaders argue that transparency and shared decision-making remain critical gaps.

Primary sources: govern.cat, dsp.interior.gencat.cat, Generalitat de Catalunya, interior.gencat.cat. Reported by elnacional.cat, ACN, protecciocivillleida.org, diarimes.com, lavanguardia.com, AutoNota, reusdigital.cat.