Surfbirds News

Last night the building decision was announced by both Poland’s minister of environment, Jan Szyszko, and Tadeusz Topczewski, the director of the General Direcorate for Roads and Highways, which is the project investor. The construction will damage internationally-important wildlife habitats protected under Polish and European law.

The international transport corridor will put at risk strongholds of lynx, wolf and the most important European Union populations of two globally-threatened birds: the greater spotted eagle and aquatic warbler.

Aquatic Warbler, Poland, May 2004, copyright Birdseekers

The European Commission is proceeding with a formal infringement procedure and has reprimanded the Polish government. In excess of 150,000 Polish people have signed the petition urging the Polish government to halt work immediately on these damaging projects and await the results of a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Quoted in the Polish media, Stavros Dimas, the EU’s Commissioner for Environment, said: “To prevent irreversible damage we will ask the European Court of Justice to stop the construction.”

The Augustow bypass construction – through the Rospuda wetlands - faces strong opposition both in Poland and internationally. The Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the Polish Ombudsman, the European Parliament and the European Commission have expressed their disapproval for this investment in its current state. The European Commission has announced that it is accelerating its infringement procedure and sent an immediate warning letter to the Polish authorities yesterday.

Dr Helen Byron, the RSPB’s expert on Via Baltica, said: “By allowing the construction of this highway, gouging a wound through some of Europe’s most important wildlife sites, Poland is displaying a deeply troubling lack of concern for its natural treasures. It seems that even international outrage and the concerns from thousands of Polish citizens are not enough to prevent this outrageous destruction.”

Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager of Birdlife International, said: “Like other member states, Poland needs to respect EU nature legislation.

“There are feasible alternative routes for Via Baltica, which would result in far less damage to some of Europe's most valuable natural sites. We acknowledge the need to upgrade and develop infrastructure in Poland, but any development must follow the EU legal framework. Anything less would be unfair to other member states and would risk irreversible damage to unique natural heritage. We will continue to follow these developments and raise our concerns with decision-makers in the EU institutions and in Poland.”

Magda Stoczkiewicz, Polish-born policy coordinator of CEE Bankwatch Network in Brussels, said: “The arrogance of our government in this case is truly remarkable and damaging not only to a unique European nature site but also to our image as a country.”