Surfbirds News: BirdLife International Archives
European Commission takes last minute action to stop illegal expressway construction in Poland
Environmental NGOs, including BirdLife International, the CEE Bankwatch Network, OTOP, the Polish partner of BirdLife International, Greenpeace, WWF Poland and Wetland Conservation Centre 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 August 1st. The European Commission originally took Poland to the Court on this matter in March 2007.
Black Grouse, threatened by road developments in Poland,
copyright Graham Catley
The Rospuda valley is a designated Natura 2000 site for its status as an area of outstanding biodiversity value. It is home to the protected
Lesser-spotted Eagle
Aquila pomarina
and
White-tailed Eagle |
