The Polish government had decisively rejected the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) decision to impose heavy fines on Poland for not suspending extraction in the Turów lignite mine. Europe’s top court ruled that due to Poland not introducing interim measures to suspend mining, the Polish government is obliged to pay €500,000 per day to the European Commission.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out that the European Court of Justice’s decision was the result of a complaint filed against Poland by Czechia, as well as a “lack of good will” from Prague’s side when it came to negotiations with Warsaw.
“If the European Union and the ECJ want to risk the lives and health of Poles and do not care for our several pages long argumentation, then I believe that the situation has been turned on its head,” he said and underlined that the government does not agree with the outcome.
Anonymous PiS politician:
Suspending our activity within the V4 on the highest level would be a radical move but a temporary one could be necessary until the conflict has been resolved.
Polish portal Wirtualna Polska report that many Law and Justice (PiS) politicians, who belong to the country’s ruling conservative party, also share the same sentiment as the prime minister. The government has made the decision to not abide to the European Court of Justice ruling and to not shut down the Turów mine.
According to sources from within the ruling party, the idea to temporarily suspend meetings between V4 leaders is being considered.
“Suspending our activity within the V4 on the highest level would be a radical move but a temporary one could be necessary until the conflict has been resolved,” said an unnamed source from PiS.
Government officials have not confirmed this information. Government spokesman Piotr Muller has, however, acknowledged that the government is considering a number of scenarios as part of EU mechanisms.
The next round of negotiations concerning Turów will take place on Friday in Prague.
