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Poland told to pay EUR 500,000 daily for ignoring EU court order on lignite mine

20.09.2021 16:00
Poland will have to pay a EUR 500,000 daily fine to the European Commission for defying an order to halt operations at a lignite mine near the Czech border, the EU's top court said on Monday.
Established in 1952, the Court of Justice of the European Union aims to ensure that member states comply with obligations under the blocs treaties. The top EU court also interprets EU law at the request of national courts.
Established in 1952, the Court of Justice of the European Union aims to ensure that member states comply with obligations under the bloc's treaties. The top EU court also interprets EU law at the request of national courts.Image: curia.europa.eu

The statement came after the Czech government said in June it would call on Europe’s top court to fine Poland EUR 5 million daily for not complying with an order to halt extraction at its Turów open-pit lignite mine.

In March, the Czech Republic filed for an injunction with the EU Court of Justice, saying the Turów open-cast mine on the Polish-Czech border was draining groundwater away from surrounding areas and harming Czech citizens.

The EU court said on Monday that the Turów mine, run by Poland’s state-run energy company PGE, continued to operate despite a ruling to stop mining activities immediately until a final judgement is delivered.

"Poland is ordered to pay the European Commission a daily penalty payment of EUR 500,000 because it has not ceased lignite extraction activities at Turów mine," the European Court of Justice said.

It added: "Such a measure appears necessary in order to strengthen the effectiveness of the interim measures decided upon in the order of 21 May 2021 and to deter that member state from delaying bringing its conduct into line with that order."

Elektrownia w Turowie The Turów power plant and open-pit brown coal mine in southwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński

Poland’s government spokesman Piotr Müller said earlier this year that the Czech government had adopted a negotiation procedure to terminate the dispute and ensure a speedy deal between the two neighbouring countries.

(gs)

Source: PAPReuters