Frequently Asked Questions

Europa Valley is a proposed hotel and leisure complex of approximately 60 hectares (initially 150 to 250 hectares), developed by the Mack family (owners of Europa-Park) through their company Mack One France SAS. It would be located between Diebolsheim and Sundhouse, in the heart of the Alsatian Ried, opposite Rust (Germany).

No. In June 2024, Frederic Bierry (president of the CEA) verbally announced the project's abandonment to the Chaudron des Alternatives collective. But in May 2025, the CEA voted to try to include Europa Valley in the SCoT (territorial planning document). In December 2025, the revised SCoTERS was approved without including the project, according to the president of the CCRM. However, confidential meetings between elected officials and Mack One continue, and the project has not been officially abandoned.

The project is at the territorial planning stage. The CEA attempted to include it in the SCoT in May 2025, but the revised SCoTERS approved in December 2025 ultimately did not retain Europa Valley. No planning permission has been submitted. Confidential meetings between elected officials, state services, and Mack One took place in 2025. The next step for the developers would be a new attempt at inclusion in planning documents (SCoT or PLU).

No, no planning permission has been submitted to date (February 2026). The project is still at the stage of modifying planning documents (SCoT, then PLU).

The developers put forward job figures, but the experience of Europa-Park on the German side shows that the majority of positions are seasonal and poorly paid. Furthermore, the EUR 260,000 study (EY/Arcadis/Ceresco), funded by public money, concludes that the territory is 'favourable to projects other than Europa Valley' -- suggesting that other forms of economic development would be more appropriate.

The project would be funded by the Mack family through Mack One France SAS (SIREN 893 901 678, share capital EUR 1M). However, EUR 260,000 of public money has already been spent on a study (Region: EUR 100,000, CEA: EUR 100,000, State: EUR 50,000, inter-municipal bodies: EUR 10,000) whose unfavourable conclusions were kept secret for 2 years.

The Ried is a fragile ecosystem of wetlands, floodable meadows, and alluvial forests. A 60-hectare hotel complex would generate an influx of vehicles (no public transport is planned), soil artificialisation, groundwater disturbances, and noise -- all factors incompatible with preserving this sensitive environment and the protected species that live there.

Yes. The project site is directly adjacent to the SAC 'Rhin-Ried-Bruch' (FR4201797, 20,086 ha), whose perimeter covers natural habitats within the municipalities of Diebolsheim and Sundhouse themselves. The Ried is also a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) and a ZNIEFF. Even though the project targets farmland, its direct adjacency to these protected areas requires a rigorous impact assessment. These protections are more extensive than those at Roybon, where Center Parcs was nevertheless abandoned after 13 years of struggle.

The Ried is home to several species protected at national and European level: the Great Hamster of Alsace (Cricetus cricetus, critically endangered), the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), the Corncrake (Crex crex), as well as numerous species of amphibians, dragonflies, and wetland plants. Any project impacting these species would require a 'protected species' derogation that can be challenged in court.

The 2021 Climate and Resilience Act imposes the 'Zero Net Artificialisation' (ZAN) objective by 2050, with a 50% reduction in artificialisation by 2031. Artificialising 60 hectares of farmland and wetlands is hardly compatible with these objectives. This argument did not exist during the Roybon fight.

No. No public consultation has taken place. The EUR 260,000 study report -- which reflects residents' opposition -- was kept secret. Confidential meetings took place between elected officials, state services, and Mack One, with explicit instructions not to discuss it: 'Everyone must keep the secret [...] this matter must not become an issue for the municipal elections' (Stephane Schaal, president of the CC d'Erstein, according to Rue89 Strasbourg).

The ADIRA, which led the EY/Arcadis/Ceresco study, refuses to release the report despite its 100% public funding. According to the findings revealed by Rue89 Strasbourg, the study concludes that the territory is 'favourable to projects other than Europa Valley'. This report is an administrative document that should be publicly accessible under the CADA law (French Freedom of Information Act).

Several situations of overlapping roles raise questions. For example, Frederic Bierry commissioned the study as president of the ADIRA, then politically championed the project as president of the CEA. Catherine Graef-Eckert simultaneously serves as VP of the CEA and VP of the ADIRA. These situations are detailed and sourced on our Stakeholders page.

Several actions are possible: sign the petition 'Ca suffit! Jetzt langt's!' on Change.org, write to your mayor and municipal election candidates for 2026, participate in collective actions (Le Chaudron des Alternatives, Alsace Nature, Jetzt Langt's, WVN), join the Telegram group, and spread the word. Visit our Actions page for more details.

Yes. The Roybon precedent (Center Parcs, Isere) shows that a similar project -- even backed by powerful elected officials -- can be stopped through legal channels. And the environmental protections of the Ried (Natura 2000 directly adjacent to the project, Ramsar, ZAN law) are at least as strong as those at Roybon, if not stronger. See our <a href='/en/roybon/' class='text-ried-green hover:underline font-medium'>Roybon page</a> for the full analysis.

Yes, it is legally required. Any PLU modification and any water law application or planning permission of this scale requires a public inquiry. This is a key moment to express opposition and document the project's shortcomings. We will keep you informed of the dates as soon as they are known.