Posted on 07/31/2007 10:44:35 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Plans to build a motorway through a protected nature reserve were thrown into disarray last night when the European Commission launched a last-minute legal challenge to thwart the project, which is part funded by the EU.
Work was due to begin on a 17km (11mile) stretch of road through the Rospuda Valley in northeastern Poland tomorrow, as part of a planned motorway to link Warsaw to Helsinki via the Baltic states.
However, the Commission insists that the road would cause irreversible damage to one of Central Europe’s finest natural habitats, comprising ancient forest, peat bogs and rare flora and fauna.
It announced that it had asked the European Court of Justice to intervene. The case is expected to be the first of a number of environmental disputes as Eastern European members modernise their roads and railways. The motorway would mark the first time that a member state had proceeded with an infrastructure project in defiance of an EU order.
“It is regrettable that Poland has now decided to go ahead with the construction of a new road through Rospuda Valley,” Stavros Dimas, the EU Environment Commissioner, said.
“I would hope that Poland will reconsider its decision before irreparable damage is done. In the meantime, the Commission has asked the Court of Justice to issue an injunction to maintain the integrity of the site,” he added.
Jerzy Polaczek, the Polish Transport Minister, called the Commission’s decision bizarre and said that the Government would study the complaint before making a final decision, but was ready to go ahead as planned. “Work on the construction is currently being completed in accordance with the contract,” he told reporters.
Construction of the road, a section of the Via Baltica linking Poland and Finland was suspended in March because of the bird-nesting season. The Rospuda Valley has been designated as a protected area for wild birds and is part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network of protected nature sites.
“The valley contains a rare mosaic of unspoilt habitats within one of the largest and best-maintained primeval forests in Central Europe,” the Commission said. Warsaw wrote to the Commission last week, refusing to promise that construction work would remain suspended.
Barbara Hellferich, a Commission spokeswoman, said that it would be unprecedented for a member state to go ahead with such work in defiance of an EU order.
“This is uncharted territory. We have not had a case like that before,” she said.
The Commission wants the work halted until the court delivers a final verdict on whether the motorway construction in the area is compatible with strict EU environmental laws.
Thijs Berman, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, said: “The development of the Via Baltica strategic road network in Central and northeast Europe is essential to the economic and social cohesion of the European Union as a whole.
“But an even higher priority should be given to better rail links in the area because of their long-term benefits. The choice is largely a question of member states’ policies but the European Union would encourage rail over road.”
The European Commission brought the Via Baltica case before the Court of Justice in March, claiming a breach of EU environmental protection laws. Mr Berman said: “The Polish authorities have failed to show that they examined alternatives to the current road construction project properly and objectively.”
Commission officials say that building the motorway through the valley could compromise EU funding for the whole Polish stretch of the planned motorway, which could amount to hundreds of millions of euros.
The section of the motorway through Rospuda is to be built without EU funds. But Poland hopes that Brussels will help to fund construction of other parts of it.
Wake up Europe!! The EU is going to micro-manage every decision that ought to be subject to local and/or national control. Think you can build an 11 mile road where YOU think it should be? Think again.....
No states rights?
Given the political attitude of the polish prime this issue should be only a small miracle.
If you are fighting like a cat for the right to stall european decisions this is certainly what you get - no money.
yitbos
Rummenigge, are you saying that the EU commission is having Poland in its sights because it may not sign up on the new "constitution"?
You don't have to answer - the answer is quite obvious. Here is another example:
The final stretch between Tallinn and Helsinki is by ferry (with about 20 departures each direction per day).
It is referred to as the Via Baltica in Northern Poland, Lithuania, Riga and Estonia, a distance of 670 km.
The Via Baltica attracted great controversy in February 2007, as its planned route is to take it through several areas in Poland of great natural value. Most controversial is the Augustow bypass, which would take the route through the wetlands of the Rospuda Valley, the last area of its kind remaining in Europe, and an area protected by EU law as part of the European Natura 2000 Network. The Polish environment minister Jan Szyszko has agreed to the route, despite receiving on the 28th Feburary 2007, a warning from the European Commission that Poland would be fined for going ahead with the route. Campaigners have proposed an alternative, cheaper route.
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Interesting international bickering stuff, especially since there is no EU Constitution and the treaty has not been ratified.
yitbos
Surprisingly there are so many beautiful highways in Europe (Western I mean) that were build, without all this greenpeace madness, by governments of Western European countries.
What is more surprising is the fact how eco-terrorists in Brussels do not allow us to have similar highways here.
Brussel just said they are not paying for it.
Again - given the appoach of polish leaders towards europe I guess this is not really a miracle.
I would guess so.
Would you think that the attitude of the Kaszinskies whould be without consequences ?
Noone loves traitors.
Traitors!!?????
Is that how you see politicians who don’t give in to the masters of the EU?
I’ve now been to Poland twice. That country is in desparate need of four laners with limited access, and they know it.
Good for the Poles! To hell with the EU.
no that’s what I say to corrupt politicians.
Now you just have to complain about that you are not getting billions of german tax payers money to build roads and harbours and you could go for presidency in poland.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/20/europe/poland.php?page=1
just read. It’s so boring running circles.
I read that whole article and I could not find any mention of the Kaczynski brothers being corrupt. Schröder - yes, definitely, but not the Poles.
it is time to institute the POLE TOLL and build the road and charge every EU vehicle an extraordinarily high useage fee... using the fee to pay for the road and enlarge protected forest lands for future toll roads.
when we do finally submit to the one world government, i fear the day individual rights are trod upon... oh wait, nevermind, already fearful.
teeman
actually I find the idea of maut intreaguing. Why have tax payers pay for the roads and not those who use them. If it was in private hands it would even mean better roads.
It’s wolves actually. As I said - idoubt that this is the issue.
I was leaning a bit far out the window when I said this might have something to do with the behaviour of the duck twins. But then again - some states and certainly many guys in brussels must feel the need to pay back.
It’s really about the twins ability to find european majorites in the end - wich is something they just fail to achieve.
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