Brussels, Belgium – Environmental
NGOs, including BirdLife International, the
CEE Bankwatch Network, OTOP, the Polish partner
of BirdLife International, Greenpeace, Wetland
Conservation Centre and WWF-Poland, support
the European Commission’s decision to ask
the European Court of Justice to halt imminent
construction of the Via Baltica expressway
through the pristine Rospuda wetlands in north-east
Poland.
The wildlife-rich Rospuda Valley is protected
under EU environment law.
In today’s announcement, the Commission asked
the European Court to make an urgent order
(‘interim measures’) requiring Poland to suspend
works immediately, until a full court judgement
is delivered.
Breaching EU environmental law and ignoring
its own commitment to wait for a decision
of the court, Poland had announced the start
of construction of the Via Baltica expressway
for 1 August. The European Commission originally
took Poland to the court on this matter in
March 2007.
The Rospuda Valley is a designated Natura
2000 site for its status as an area of outstanding
biodiversity value, home to the protected
lesser-spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), white-tailed
eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Western Capercaillie
(Tetrao urogallus), and other birdlife.
Wetlands located in the valley (including
such EU habitats as alkaline fens and bog
forests) belong to the most pristine ones
of that type within Europe. The Via Baltica
road development plan runs straight through
the Augustow Forest and other protected areas.
Magda Stoczkiewicz, Bankwatch’s Policy Coordinator,
said: “The arrogance of the Polish government
towards European law and legal institutions
– namely the European Court of Justice – is
appalling. Still, we believe that due to the
European Commission’s reaction, devastation
of the unique Rospuda Valley will be halted.”
Since the proposals for the Via Baltica Expressway
were first outlined, environmental NGOs and
conservationists in Poland and across Europe,
as well as many Members of the European Parliament,
have expressed strong opposition to the project,
arguing that economically viable and less-devastating
alternative routes exist to satisfy Poland’s
need for better infrastructure.
“Unfortunately, along the investment planning
process, numerous national and EU law requirements
had been ignored," said Marta Majka Wisniewska
of WWF-Poland. "To let the Polish government
go ahead with the planned work on Via Baltica
may result in irreversible harm to wildlife
and also withholding EU funds for the infrastructure
investments.”
Izabela Flor, Director of OTOP, the Polish
Partner of BirdLife International said: “This
case has developed into a real test case for
the enforcement of European legislation in
Poland. Poland receives significant funding
from the EU, and should also fulfil its duties
as a Member State and live up to its responsibility
to protect a unique European natural heritage.”
Maciej Muskat of Greenpeace Poland added:
“If, as the government plans, road building
through the Rospuda Valley recommences on
1 August, a great many people will come to
the valley, to defend its natural wealth and
to prevent the violation of Polish and European
law."
Note to the editors:
• The Natura 2000 network of the EU is a network
of protected sites which, on about 18% of
the EU’s territory, aims to reconcile human
activities with nature conservation. Natura
2000 sites are not fenced-off areas, but encourage
sustainable and nature friendly land-use and
business. They are established under the EU
Birds and Habitats Directives, which are binding
law for all EU Member States.
Marta Majka Wisniewska
EU Policy Coordinator of WWF-Poland
