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PRESS RELEASE June 02, 2003
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PRESS RELEASE June 02, 2003
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Complaint on the ISPA-funded construction of the Prague-Dresden motorway over potential Natura 2000 site
The route of the motorway crosses an area where dozens of protected bird species find asylum, with number of them requiring protection according to the EU Bird directive. The motorway will also destroy several sites which should be protected according to the Habitats directive. The natural richness of the territory is reflected in the result of biological mapping connected to the establishment of the Natura 2000 network. However, anticipating the future motorway and in order to avoid legal problems, the proposed Eastern Ore Mountains Special Protected Bird Area (SPA) now excludes two segments on the motorway route from the protection. The two areas are home to a number of bird species like the black grouse, corncrake, and black stork. Due to the fact that the aforementioned section of the D8 motorway expects financing from the ISPA fund and a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan, NGOs demand that the Commission assess the complaint quickly and in serious manner. The complaint summarizes information about the project preparation, where no alternative routes of the D8 were assessed which could reflect the natural values of the territory. It also shows an overview of the animal and plant species that dwell within the site and require protection according to the Birds and Habitats directives. Last but not least, it lists steps NGOs have taken in their efforts to promote a more environmentally friendly option, which unfortunately did not bring any positive results from the side of decision-making authorities. The NGOs use a special complaint form from the Commissionthat asks for details about the threat to the environment and about the quality of the decision-making process. Although the Czech Republic is not yet a member of the EU , according to DG Environment officials the complaint can be handled as if it already is. Pavel Pribyl from Hnuti Duha/CEE Bankwatch states: “The planning of the D8 motorway section across the Eastern Ore Mountains Nature Park completely ignored more environmentally friendly options: long incuse tunnel under the unique plateau of the Ore Mountains or at least excavated tunnels, that would keep traffic under the surface. In its ignorance the Czech authorities are ready to sacrifice this precious territory to Trans-European road transport, even if other solutions are possible. We ask the Commission to take our complaint seriously and we demand more than just the cosmetic changes we have seen up to now.” Vojtech Kotecky from Friends of the Earth Czech Republic points out: “The proposed protected bird area intentionally avoids two segments of land neighboring the motorway. This is also a breach from the nature protection point of view. The Commission, due to its financial involvement in the project, requires mitigation measures that should prevent such species like lynx or black grouse from entering the road. These measures, however, can in no case prevent fragmentation of the area and violation of the habitat.” Magda Stoczkiewicz
from CEE Bankwatch/FoE Europe adds: “Knowing the EIB’s lack of attention
to the environment, I am not surprised the bank wants to be involved
in the project, but I would expect more attention from the Commission,
which is officially dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable
development. Environmental protection requires more than a couple
of animal passages and noise walls along the road. If EU money is
to be dedicated to that project, it will send a very bad signal to
the accession countries’ governments showing that they can override
any environmental interests if they can only justify it with a new
highway in one of the Trans-European transport corridors.” Pavel Pribyl is present at Green Week in Brussels from June 1 till June 4 and can be reached for further explanations or interviews by mobile phone: ++420 603 207 249. Text of the complaint (in English) is available upon request from: pavel.pribyl@ecn.cz or vojtech.kotecky@hnutiduha.cz Further materials and information on the D8 motorway can be found on: www.bankwatch.org For details related
to the EIB contact: |