Government to take Turów dispute to European Commission

The Czech government will turn to the European Commission for assistance in resolving the Czech-Polish controversy over the planned expansion of the Turów brown coal mine located in the close proximity to the Czech border, Environment Minister Richard Brabec told the ctk news agency. The expansion was approved by the Polish authorities, despite Czech concerns that it would threaten water sources for villages on the Czech side, as well as severely increasing noise and dust pollution.

The Czech-Polish dispute goes back to 2016 when the Czech Republic first protested against the planned expansion requesting information on the impact on water resources, agricultural land and other habitats, as well as air and noise pollution on the Czech side of the border.

Efforts to halt the project have been unsuccessful, with Poland arguing that adequate measures were being taken to protect inhabitants and land on the Czech side of the border from any negative side effects. The Czech Republic has said it is ready to take the matter to the European Court of Justice if a solution is not found.