"Gille Garrick, an opponent of the main collective of opponen..."

#13085493

11 December 2025

Gille Garrick, an opponent of the main collective of opponents, speaks to the crowd after the end of the hearings in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. A final hearing on the legality of the environmental authorizations for the planned highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. Plaintiffs against the A69 ask the court to nullify all environmental authorizations given for the A69 project. Opponents gather in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal during the hearings. They argue that this highway is not legally sound, that NGE/Atosca (builders) do not respect even their own documents about ecological compensations, violence against opponents, non-respect of regulations, etc. NGE/Atosca and the Minister of Ecology plead that this highway is 'necessary by nature' and that the first decision of the Administrative Court to scrap the authorizations is an 'anomaly'. The verdict will be given on December 30, 2025. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') wants the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. This takes place in Toulouse, France, on December 11, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13085494

11 December 2025

Gille Garrick, an opponent of the main collective of opponents, speaks to the crowd after the end of the hearings in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. A final hearing on the legality of the environmental authorizations for the planned highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. Plaintiffs against the A69 ask the court to nullify all environmental authorizations given for the A69 project. Opponents gather in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal during the hearings. They argue that this highway is not legally sound, that NGE/Atosca (builders) do not respect even their own documents about ecological compensations, violence against opponents, non-respect of regulations, etc. NGE/Atosca and the Minister of Ecology plead that this highway is 'necessary by nature' and that the first decision of the Administrative Court to scrap the authorizations is an 'anomaly'. The verdict will be given on December 30, 2025. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') wants the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. This takes place in Toulouse, France, on December 11, 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13035680

28 November 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent, speaks after the hearing on the recusal of some judges. A rare hearing takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse, France, on November 28, 2025. Plaintiffs against the A69 are joined by the SAF (Union of French Lawyers) to request the recusal of two judges of the panel who participated in a ruling reauthorizing the continuation of works on the planned A69 highway. Plaintiffs have already asked these judges to recuse themselves, and they refused. Plaintiffs go to the Administrative Court of Appeal, stating that these judges must be recused to protect the confidence of French citizens in the administrative courts and the entire judicial system. Lawyers also plead for the impartiality of justice. More than a dozen lawyers are present, as this is a very rare case in the French justice system. According to custom, if a judge has already judged a case, he recuses himself if the same case goes to court again. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), wants the construction of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12392683

21 May 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent from LVEL, speaks to the press after hearings at the Cour Administrative d'Appel de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on May 21, 2025, following the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse to suspend all works on the A69 highway project between Toulouse and Castres. NGE/Atosca files an appeal against this decision and asks the court to allow the works to continue during the appeal process. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department propose a retroactive law to authorize the construction of the A69, aiming to bypass the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse. Atosca claims that all leveling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the leveling works and highway structures do not match the numbers provided by Atosca. Additionally, several issues affect the work, such as water evacuation and species protection. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free), wants the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions are made. All expropriations for farmers are not resolved. Opponents of the project argue that reprofiling the N126 will suffice for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12392691

21 May 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent from LVEL, speaks to the press after hearings at the Cour Administrative d'Appel de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on May 21, 2025, following the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse to suspend all works on the A69 highway project between Toulouse and Castres. NGE/Atosca files an appeal against this decision and asks the court to allow the works to continue during the appeal process. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department propose a retroactive law to authorize the construction of the A69, aiming to bypass the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse. Atosca claims that all leveling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the leveling works and highway structures do not match the numbers provided by Atosca. Additionally, several issues affect the work, such as water evacuation and species protection. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free), wants the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions are made. All expropriations for farmers are not resolved. Opponents of the project argue that reprofiling the N126 will suffice for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12392693

21 May 2025

Gilles Garric, opponent from LVEL speaks to the press after hearings at the Cour Administrative d'Appel de Toulouse' (ie 'Adminiistrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse') after the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse to suspend all works on the A69 project highway between Toulouse and Castres, NGE/Atosca filed an appeal against this decision and asked the Court to let the works continue during the time the appeal will be judged. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department put on vote a retroactiv law to authorize the building of the A69. They say they want to bypass the decision of the Admin istrative Court of Toulouse.Atosca says all levelling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the levelling works and highway structure aren't close to the numbers given by Atosca. More, several problems plagued the work suh as water evacuation, protection of species, etc. The main assocation 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Toulouse. France. May 21th 2025.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12392686

21 May 2025

The lawyer for opponents, Alice Terrasse, speaks to the press after hearings at the Cour Administrative d'Appel de Toulouse, in Toulouse, France, on May 21, 2025. On the left is Gilles Garric from LVEL, and on the right is lawyer Julie Rover. This follows the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse to suspend all works on the A69 highway project between Toulouse and Castres. NGE/Atosca files an appeal against this decision and asks the court to allow the works to continue during the appeal process. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department propose a retroactive law to authorize the building of the A69, aiming to bypass the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse. Atosca claims that all leveling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the leveling works and highway structures do not match the numbers provided by Atosca. Additionally, several issues affect the work, such as water evacuation and species protection. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free), and other opponents want the construction of the highway to stop until all judicial decisions are made. Expropriations for farmers are not yet resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 will suffice for the planned 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, with more than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields at risk of destruction.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12102485

28 February 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent representing the town of Teulmat, and Alice Terrasse speak during the press conference. A press conference takes place in Toulouse, France, on February 27, 2025, as plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres win an 'administrative' trial on the content in front of the judges of the Administrative Court of Toulouse against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca. Judges revoke the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway, thus stopping all works. In December, surprising everyone, the judges decide to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision on the content. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Interest Imperative for public interest,' is invalid, as did the 'Rapporteur Public' before. The 'Rapporteur Public' sticks to her position that all environmental authorizations should be nullified, taking down the ''Major Interest Imperative for Public Interest.'' The court's decision stops the building of the A69 highway. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12102496

28 February 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent representing the town of Teulat, speaks during the press conference. A press conference takes place in Toulouse, France, on February 27, 2025, as plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres win an 'administrative' trial on the content in front of the judges of the Administrative Court of Toulouse against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca. Judges revoke the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway, thus stopping all works. In December, surprising everyone, the judges decide to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision on the content. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Interest Imperative for public interest,' is invalid, as did the 'Rapporteur Public' before. The 'Rapporteur Public' sticks to her position that all environmental authorizations should be nullified, taking down the ''Major Interest Imperative for Public Interest.'' The court's decision stops the building of the A69 highway. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12102499

28 February 2025

Gilles Garric, an opponent representing the town of Teulat, speaks during the press conference. A press conference takes place in Toulouse, France, on February 27, 2025, as plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres win an 'administrative' trial on the content in front of the judges of the Administrative Court of Toulouse against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca. Judges revoke the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway, thus stopping all works. In December, surprising everyone, the judges decide to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision on the content. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Interest Imperative for public interest,' is invalid, as did the 'Rapporteur Public' before. The 'Rapporteur Public' sticks to her position that all environmental authorizations should be nullified, taking down the ''Major Interest Imperative for Public Interest.'' The court's decision stops the building of the A69 highway. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12102478

28 February 2025

Gilles Garric, representing the town of Teulat and opposing the A69, speaks to the press. A press conference takes place in Toulouse, France, on February 27, 2025, as plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres win an 'administrative' trial on the content in front of the judges of the Administrative Court of Toulouse against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca. Judges revoke the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway, thus stopping all works. In December, surprising everyone, the judges decide to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision on the content. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Interest Imperative for public interest,' is invalid, as did the 'Rapporteur Public' before. The 'Rapporteur Public' sticks to her position that all environmental authorizations should be nullified, taking down the ''Major Interest Imperative for Public Interest.'' The court's decision stops the building of the A69 highway. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#12102480

28 February 2025

Gilles Garric, who represents the town of Teulat and opposes the A69, stands before the press conference. The banner reads 'Stop to the A69'. A press conference takes place in Toulouse, France, on February 27, 2025, as plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres win an 'administrative' trial on the content in front of the judges of the Administrative Court of Toulouse against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca. Judges revoke the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway, thus stopping all works. In December, surprising everyone, the judges decide to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision on the content. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Interest Imperative for public interest', is invalid, as did the 'Rapporteur Public' before. The 'Rapporteur Public' sticks to her position that all environmental authorizations should be nullified, taking down the ''Major Interest Imperative for Public Interest''. The court's decision stops the building of the A69 highway. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.