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.
lol that’s because i posted it as a reference for his treason on the european reform consensus.
He’s corrupt because of the way he handles his governmental crisis - every officer with an attitude gets fired and replaced by a marionette.
Just 11 miles - no problem. Build a tunnel under it and call it “the Big Dig.”
***Wake up Europe!! The EU is going to micro-manage every decision that ought to be subject to local and/or national control.***
The reason the Russian Communist government failed is because everything had to be done from the top down. Example: Wheat growers had to plant when Moscow said it was time. If the fields in any part of Russia were soaked with rain, the farmers had to go to the local commissioner to get permission to delay planting. He had to go to the next level of government which had to go to the next level, and so on until it reached the command in Moscow. By then, the farmers’ tractors were sunken in mud in their fields when they tried to till and plant.
The same was true when it was time to harvest. Some wheat rotted in the fields because it matured earlier than Moscow commanded it to. Other wheat was harvested before it was ripe. The same problem was evident when it came to trucking the usuable wheat to storage. The result? The Russians were starving. The EU basically operates on the same premise as communism.
To not agree to a "European reform consensus" is not treason. Some people - I among those - would actually consider agreeing to the new treaty without letting the voters have a say via referenda akin to treason.
May that be a difference that stands between us then.
ping
One of many I would imagine.
We do agree on one thing - that Karl Heinz Rummenigge was a great fooballer.
that’s a start. LOL
Honestly I think we are facing problems with the polish government. Maybe not as much as the poles but nevertheless they are quite annoying.
First there was WW2 then there was Willy Brandt, Lech Walesa and a Revolution - then there was Kohl lobbying for a place in Europe for Poland.
the deal was : We pay for your infrastructure - you join the club and act like you want to help yourself and us for european stability and prosperity as we all do. Together we are strong.
Now we face these angry clowns that can do nothing else but trample through the fragile and rare plant of unity in europe. It angers me on a spiritual level. They found an agreement in the end beeing granted 100 Million Euro extra - as with all terrorists paying the ransom was a mistake.
Now they want to have the right to block european decissions for 2 years.
No matter if you are in fear of a european superstate or a strong supporter of it.
You cannot really support a country that sends a guy to important negotiations that has to phone for his brother to make a decission - taking whole of europe hostage for several hours only to give in after beeing bribed with 100Kmillions. After 2 month the same people utter some BS that noone will accept to turn it all into a ‘take the money and run’ strategy.
Scania is a great brand btw.
nothing to do with “attitude”...
don’t forget that PM and President are chosen by people...
They are chosen because people trust them they will fulfill promises they made...
If an officer chosen by PM does not agree with the way country is going and tries to sabotage PM’s policies he gets fired... simple.
This would be kind of funny if ministers chosen by coalition would serve interests of oposition.
Good luck to the citizens of Augustow. I hope they cause real mayhem for the Eurocrats and commissars in Brussels!
Well ok...
see I got the strong feeling you were not really seeking for a german to explain good governance to you.
I have some sense of understanding for that :)
Nevertheless I trust in your ability of perception to see the situation from another angle.
“Have all these officials been corrupt and in an entirely wrong position before the Kaczynski Twins came ? Or is it maybe only partialy politics that is made on their backs ?”
I did it again. Shame on me.
Oh and btw the biggest danger is not that he served oppositions interests or germanies (oh god beware us from such evil) but if he failed to serve polish interests.
You know about Win-Win situations - do you ?
hmmm I am really challanged to keep up my pro EU attitude here.
These guys should certainly not pay for the rock bottom performance of their government. And brussel needs a bit of a rough-up time by time.
Greetings to this Greek Prius driver...
Thanks- very interesting thread here!
NAU/GLOBALISM PING.
Look what we have to look forward to, guys. Seems those pesky Poles and their inconvenient love of freedom is causing a ruckus.
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.Boy, Poland sure is uppity!!! /s“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.
“This is uncharted territory. We have not had a case like that before,” she said.
PPH....what was the thread where there was documents concerning a NEW JUSTICE COURT being implemented and trumping US Constitution in the formation of the entity to be known as the NAU?
german governing is not so good, you know... (eastern gemany??)
“Have all these officials been corrupt and in an entirely wrong position before the Kaczynski Twins came ? Or is it maybe only partialy politics that is made on their backs ?”
yes, those which ruled Poland before what you call “duck twins” (what you’d call mrs Merkel then?) have been bad... some were corrupted, some were just bad, some were uneducated, some were good....
for Germans it was good (all the way)... your leaders were good friends of those people... (they were all commies or had a deal with them... )
Walesa was an exception... he had a deal with commies also but he saved a lot of Polish lives
But now we have first anti-communists rulling our country and corrupted officers are being thrown out... why do you care?? it does not serve the interest of Deutschland???
too bad
“Oh and btw the biggest danger is not that he served oppositions interests or germanies (oh god beware us from such evil) but if he failed to serve polish interests.”
So far it’s Polish ruling coaltion that does not loose support of Polish nation (PiS I mean as LPR an Samoobrona have joined together)...
they just happen to be serving polish interests...
bad for you I guess :/
What do you “ze evil Germans” need??? another socialist governing in Poland? so you can turn eastern Europe into Estearn Germany?
A win-win situation does not exists in conflict of countries which national interests eclipse interests of another country...
I doubt you can have a non-zero sum conflict of DE-PL interests...
Just like a KGB - STASI friendship (Putin-Warnig) Warnig as an ex-STASI SOB officer, personal friend of Vlad Putin and employer of Schroeder - Gerhard Schroeder)...
Now please explain this strange friendship??
Putin minds think like?
>> But now we have first anti-communists rulling our country and corrupted officers are being thrown out... why do you care?? it does not serve the interest of Deutschland??? <<
No it doesn’t serve germanies interests - I doesn’t have to - respect would be the missing ingredience. Moreover it tries to nuture on a self planted polish hate towards germany.
In it’s attitude to germany it’s provocative - obstructing and ill behaved. In it’s attitude to the EU it’s like a looting mob.
“Maybe not as much as the poles but nevertheless they are quite annoying.”
And you stink.
Yep. Poor, poor Gerries... again the victims...
girl
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