Construction of Polish expressway halted

03-08-2007

BirdLife International and a number of NGOs have applauded the Polish government’s decision to halt imminent construction of the Via Baltica Expressway through the pristine Rospuda Wetlands in north-east Poland.

The decision was made in response to the European Commission’s last minute action on Monday, asking the European Court of Justice to make an urgent order (‘interim measures’) requiring Poland to suspend works immediately, until a full Court judgement is delivered.

Poland’s decision to halt construction means that a further breach of EU environmental law -and irreversible damage to part of Europe’s last remaining primeval wetlands- has been avoided.

The Rospuda valley is a designated Natura 2000 site for its status as an area of outstanding biodiversity value. Bird species threatened include Lesser-spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus.

"We urge the Commission and the Polish authorities to cooperate..." —Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International

Concerns remain over other parts of the proposed Via Baltica Expressway route, particularly the Biebrza Valley, where a four-lane bridge is planned plus an additional service road which will run through the Valley. Biebrza is recognised as globally important for many species and attracts thousands of international visitors each year.

Environmental NGOs, including BirdLife International, believe that it is possible to find both an appropriate route for the international corridor and to construct a bypass for Augustow to alleviate safety problems without impacts on sites of European importance for nature.

Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International said: “We urge the Commission and the Polish authorities to cooperate to find such solutions and secure EU funding for their early implementation.”