Polska wersja

Polish Minister of Environment breaks national and EU law with death sentence for pristine Polish wetlands

17.07.2006 In a move which environmentalists believe violates both national and European Union environmental legislation, Poland’s Minister of the Environment Jan Szyszko announced the routing of the EUR 72 million Augustow city bypass, a part of the S-8 expressway in north-east Poland, through the wetlands of Rospuda Valley.

Rospuda Valley in the Augustow Primeval Forest is a priceless part of the European Natura 2000 Network, and serves as a refuge for a number of extremely rare species of animals, some on the brink of extinction, and plants as well habitats. International environmental organisations OTOP - Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (the Polish partner of Birdlife International), CEE Bankwatch Network and WWF reacted with dismay to the minister’s decision, asserting also that the new route will in no way provide a solution for transit lorries drivng through the centre of Augustow Spa.

Robert Cyglicki, of CEE Bankwatch Network which monitors the provision of public EU money across central and eastern Europe, said: "Politics has got the better of common sense in this decision. The Minister of Environment has caved into pressure from the roadmen and politicians who are looking forward to the forthcoming local elections. The environmental and financial analysis for this bypass explicitly showed that just a minor correction of the Augustow bypass route would avoid impacting Rospuda Valley. The optimal variant has been completely ignored by the ministry."

The Augustow bypass lies within the so-called "Bialystok option" of the First Trans-European Transport Corridor "Via Baltica". The corridor can potentially be co-financed by the European Union. However, the route of the bypass now contravenes EU environmental legislation. The European Commission is currently investigating this case under its infringement procedure. Polish campaigners maintain that the Polish authorities cannot rely on EU financial support for the Augustow bypass while at the same time violating EU directives on the protection of nature valuable sites.

Majka Wisniewska, of WWF Poland, said: "We have worked hard to show that the interests of people and nature, including lorries drivers and local communities, are reconcilable. We elaborated and analysed an alternative route for the Augustow bypass, we initiated a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the First Trans-European Transport Corridor and finally commissioned an analysis of traffic safety in the Podlasie Region with specific proposals on how to improve the safety of road users. Now we can only appeal to the law courts."

The organisations also have serious concerns that this controversial decision from the Ministry of Environment will not guarantee the rapid construction of the desperately needed Augustow bypass due to a shortage of national budget funds and a mountain of legal problems.

Malgorzata Znaniecka, of OTOP, said: "Without European financial support this investment could drag on for ages, causing irreversible damage to people and unique habitats. Moreover, financial fines from the European Commission for non-compliance with European environmental principles are also feasible. It is unbelievable that by ignoring the routing correction in favour of people and the environment, with this decision the Minister has effectively ruled out the chance for EU support and the speedy construction of the bypass."

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