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Polish prime minister defies EC ban on road project

13 May 2007 13:46:10 GMT
Source: Reuters

WARSAW, May 13 (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski on Sunday threw his weight behind a highway construction project which the European Commission has ordered Poland to halt on environmental grounds.

Kaczynski urged voters in the north-eastern town of Bransk to back the project in a regional referendum due to be held next Sunday saying: "We are fighting today for Poland's right to rapid development."

"If we allow restrictions and obstacles by every group to block such a major investment, then Poland's great opportunity will be lost."

Although the results of the referendum are not binding, the controversy is seen as a test case pitting EU environmental concerns against Poland's need to upgrade its antiquated infrastructure ahead of European Football championships in 2012.

The ringroad project enjoys the backing of most local residents who complain growing international lorry traffic is causing serious damage to roads, buildings and people's health.

But environmentalists fear the plan will cause irreparable damage to one of Europe's largest wetlands and peat bogs which are home to numerous rare plant and animal species.

Designed as part of highway linking Warsaw to Helsinki via the Baltic states, the ringroad goes through an area with protected status under the EU's Natura 2000 network of conservation sites.

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Last updated:Sun May 13 13:47:43 2007