Press Release: Poland: Commission takes urgent action to protect threatened wildlife habitats

The European Commission has sent Poland a final warning concerning the damage that will be done to primeval woodland and other natural habitats of European importance if the construction of the Augustow bypass and the Wasilkow bypass goes ahead. The Commission supports the upgrading of road infrastructure in Poland – including along the Helsinki-Warsaw road corridor in the north-eastern part of the country – but it does not accept that the irreversible damage that will be caused by the bypasses is either necessary or justified. As clearing work has either started or is about to start on these two construction projects the Commission is treating the matter as urgent and has asked Poland to respond within one week.