Obtained document
EY/Arcadis/Ceresco Report
What the EUR 260,000 publicly funded study reveals. Extract from the Phase 3 report, technical committee meeting of 21 February 2023.
The document
A 3-phase study, 20 months of work, led by the ADIRA.
Context
The study entitled "Study on responsible and sustainable economic and tourism development in Central Alsace" was carried out by the consortium EY (Ernst & Young Advisory), Arcadis, and Ceresco. Commissioned by a group led by the ADIRA, it ran from July 2021 to February 2023 in three phases:
What we obtained
An extract from Phase 3: the presentation from the technical committee meeting of 21 February 2023, consisting of 43 slides. It is not the full report, but it is already sufficient to understand what the consultants themselves think of the project.
Download the document (PDF, 2.5 MB)What's still missing
The full reports from Phases 1, 2, and 3 have still not been released. This is the subject of our CADA (Freedom of Information) procedure — the commission ruled in our favour on August 10, 2026.
What it reveals
5 devastating findings -- in the consultants' own words.
The study was triggered by Europa Valley
Despite a neutral title about "territorial development", EY confirms in black and white that the Mack project prompted the commissioning of the study. EUR 260,000 of public money spent because of a private project.
"The 'Europa Valley' project intention by the Mack Group, which triggered the commissioning of the study, is not sufficiently advanced at this stage to commit to implementation arrangements."
-- EY/Arcadis/Ceresco Report, slide 34
The territory does not want a mega-project
The local stakeholders consulted by EY express no demand for a large-scale tourism project. They want local, authentic, human-scale development.
"The Europa Valley project intention had not raised strong expectations in terms of tourism leverage effect for the territory."
-- slide 9
"The work carried out in Central Alsace as part of the study shows that there is not necessarily any demand for a major economic development project."
-- slide 26
"Paradox: territorial stakeholders express a strong desire to see the territory develop, without however hoping for the establishment of flagship projects."
-- slide 10
Mack never provided anything
Over 20 months of study, the Mack Group did not provide any concrete details about their project. No plans, no figures, no timeline. The consultants explicitly deplore this.
"We will not obtain further information in terms of project maturity and precision. Due to the Mack Group's silence, their integration with Europa Valley can hardly be discussed at this stage."
-- slide 9
"A majority of stakeholders with no real opinion due to the lack of concrete proposals from the project developer."
-- slide 23
EY warns the study could be seen as mere legitimisation
The consultants themselves warn that if the commissioners do not follow up on the territory's expectations, the study will be perceived as a mere alibi for Europa Valley. This warning is considered so important that it appears twice in the document.
"At the conclusion of the study, should the commissioning group fail to act on the strong expectations expressed by the territory, it seems difficult to envisage a constructive and calm presentation to the mobilised stakeholders. The lack of commitment could be interpreted by the territory as confirmation of the initial feeling shared by many stakeholders that the study served only to 'legitimise' the Europa Vallee project."
-- slides 23 and 31 (repeated verbatim with the note "Reminder:")
Nobody wants to champion the project
After 20 months of work, no local authority in the commissioning group agrees to take the lead. The project is politically orphaned.
"No member of the commissioning group has positioned itself as lead on any of the project proposals at this stage."
-- slide 21
"A rather difficult projection into the operational implementation of projects for several reasons (legal competences, projects already dealt with in one way or another, projects not specific to Central Alsace, etc.)."
-- slide 21
The 4 impossible conditions
EY identifies 4 "key success factors" for any development project in Central Alsace. These conditions are cumulative -- all must be met.
"Cumulative conditions that must be fully met. Otherwise, high risk of strong opposition from residents and elected officials (especially at the municipal level). Possible convergence with various citizens' collectives and environmental defence associations." -- slide 25
Local economic benefits and trickle-down
"A potential project should have strong local economic benefits, notably in terms of brand image and jobs, which rules out the idea of a 'closed' project where access would be 100% paid." -- slide 26
Why Europa Valley fails
A closed resort-style hotel complex managed by a foreign group is by definition a "closed" project. Local economic benefits would be marginal -- exactly what the territory rejects.
Environmental exemplarity
"Environmental exemplarity is at the heart of the vision expressed by local stakeholders for the territory by 2035, and any future project (tourism or otherwise) will have to comply with it. A potential project should guard against accusations of 'greenwashing'." -- slide 27
Why Europa Valley fails
Paving over 60 to 250 hectares directly adjacent to Natura 2000 and Ramsar zones cannot constitute "environmental exemplarity". The Great Hamster of Alsace and the Eurasian Curlew will not survive greenwashing.
Traffic and transport management
"Mobility issues would be one of the main difficulties of a potential project, as an increase in road traffic would constitute a real red line for elected officials and residents." -- slide 28
Why Europa Valley fails
No transport infrastructure exists or is funded. The cable car plan was abandoned. No road bridge connects the area over 50 km. EY themselves note that a solution would be "a textbook case in France".
Land consumption
"In a context of land scarcity in Central Alsace, a project that consumes too much land would provoke opposition from environmental defence associations but above all from local elected officials, given the objective of limiting land artificialisation." -- slide 29
Why Europa Valley fails
60 to 250 hectares of artificialisation would consume nearly all of the territory's "land budget" under the ZAN law (Zero Net Artificialisation). Local stakeholders say it themselves: "We must not consume the entire land budget of the territory on a single project."
In summary
The 4 conditions identified by the authorities' own consultants are cumulative. Europa Valley meets none of them. This is not the opposition saying it -- it is EY, Ernst & Young, paid EUR 260,000 of public money to say it.
Who commissioned and paid
EUR 260,000 of public funds, not a single cent of private investment.
| Commissioner | Role | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRA (Vincent Froehlicher) | Study lead | — |
| CEA (Frederic Bierry) | Funder | EUR 100,000 |
| Grand Est Region | Funder | EUR 100,000 |
| Regional Prefect | Funder (State) | EUR 50,000 |
| CC canton d'Erstein (Stephane Schaal) | Co-commissioner | EUR 10,000 |
The study in numbers
What's still missing
This document is only an extract. The full reports remain secret.
An extract, not the full report
What we obtained is a 43-slide presentation prepared for the technical committee. The full reports from all three phases -- containing the raw data, sector studies, and detailed conclusions -- have still not been released.
If a mere extract is already this damning, what does the full report contain?
The CADA ruled in our favour
We have simultaneously filed formal requests with all 5 commissioners of the study by registered letter to obtain the full set of deliverables. On August 10, 2026, France's freedom-of-information commission issued a favourable opinion on our request (opinion no. 202605018): ADIRA must release the final report, the interim deliverables and the tender specifications.
Read the CADA opinion (PDF, in French)Sources
The document
- EY / Arcadis / Ceresco -- "Study on responsible and sustainable economic and tourism development in Central Alsace", Phase 3 extract, technical committee of 21 February 2023 (43 slides). Copyright 2023 Ernst & Young Advisory. Study contacts: Quentin Nam (EY), Monique Jung (ADIRA).
Press
Environmental protections
Related pages
EUR 260,000 to learn what we already knew
The territory does not want this project. The consultants confirm it. And the full reports are still secret. Help us obtain them.