Press Release: Environmental Impact Assessment: Commission refers Poland to the Court of Justice of the EU over inadequate assessment of exploratory mining drillings

On 28 April 2016 the European Commission refered Poland to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to ensure that the environmental impacts of exploratory mining drillings are properly assessed. Under Polish law, it is possible to drill down to depths of 5 000 metres without assessing the potential impact on the environment beforehand. The high threshold introduced under Polish law does not take into account all relevant criteria and standards established by the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU), which should be used when determining whether certain types of projects require an assessment.

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/1452, 28.04.16: The April infringements' package: key decisions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1452_en.htm

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