Polish environmental agency rules in favour of biodiversity with New Year's resolution to cancel airports flawed permitting

11.01.2011

Warsaw, Poland -- Campaign groups are applauding last week’s decision by the national General Directorate for Environmental Protection to revoke consent for the planned Tykocin regional airport in northeast Poland, a 125 million euros project slated to receive more than 70 percent of its financing from the EU’s Structural Funds.

The ruling to withdraw environmental consent shelves the project indefinitely and asserts a formal appeal lodged by a coalition of Polish NGOs, including Bankwatch member Polish Green Network and regional offices of WWF and Birdlife.

Chief among the complainants concerns are numerous deficiencies in the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), including failures to account for at least four Important Bird Areas and Special Protection Areas (IBAs/SPAs) and the lack of a cumulative assessment of further planned airport development next to the Tykocin site.

Przemek Kalinka, Bankwatch EU funds campaigner in Poland, commented on the ruling, “It’s a commendable decision for the new year, as this poor quality EIA not only would have permitted the loss of valuable natural areas but also jeopardised passenger safety due in part to large bird populations in the Narew and Biebrza River Valleys that border the planned airport site.”

The General Directorate’s decision also states that the EIA fell short of necessary provisions under Article 6.3 of the EU’s Habitats Directive, a violation which would preclude access to Structural Funds.

“We’re hopeful that the renewed EIA process will be carried forward with renewed political will to explore alternative and sustainable transportation solutions for the area that ensures both the availability of important public funds for regional development and moreover the safety of nature and people.”