MEPs call on European Commission to put pressure on Poland due to mine on Czech border

MEPs from the Committee on Petitions in the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to toughen its approach to Poland in regards to continued activity in the country’s Turów mine near the Czech border, the Czech News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The committee did so after consulting a petition penned by citizens from the Northern Bohemian Liberec Region who complain that the mining activity is depriving many local communities of drinking water.

The Majority of MEPs who took part in the discussion agreed that Brussels should initiate infringement proceedings against Poland for breaching EU law.

In May, Poland decided to authorise continued mining in the Turów mine for another six years, despite argumentation from Czech authorities and citizens from the Liberec Region that this was in breach of EU directives on the environment and drinking water supply.