What goes on in Poland on the 4th of January.
A Polish-Czech agreement on the Turów Mine has been reached
An agreement between the Polish and Czech governments regarding the Turów Mine has been reached. This was announced by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moskwa.
„We are opening a new chapter in Polish-Czech relations, looking to the future with optimism. The negotiations were long, difficult and demanding for both parties,” the head of the Polish government indicated in a Twitter post on Thursday. He assured that the Turów mine and the Turów power plant “will continue to function without any obstacles and supply electricity to several million inhabitants of Lower Silesia and the rest of Poland”.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki noted that over six months ago, for social and energy security reasons, “we could not afford to shut down the mine and power plant in Turów”. As he added, this is a few percent of our power system and several thousand jobs. „We have defended these jobs, ensured energy security for Poland and we will also better protect the natural environment,” he emphasized.
Referring to the agreement on the open pit mine in Turów, signed on Thursday, he said: „This is a great success for Polish diplomacy!” He pointed out that signing this agreement ended the freezing period of very good Polish-Czech relations, “yet we need consent now as countries on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, when black clouds gather over the security of our neighbors to the east.” The head of the government thanked everyone who contributed to Thursday’s “success, especially Prime Minister Fiala for his openness and flexibility, Minister Anna Moskwa from the Ministry of Climate and Environment and Mr. Cezary Przybylski – Marshal of the Lower Silesia Province, who was a good negotiating spirit.”
Poland will appeal against the penalties imposed on Turów
Poland will appeal against penalties imposed, inter alia, in connection with the continuation of lignite mining in the Turów Mine, according to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s statement on Thursday. On September 20, 2021, the CJEU imposed a fine of EUR 500,000 on Poland per day for not implementing the interim measure and continuing to extract lignite from the mine.
„The European Union, the European Commission, and in this particular case one judge, without the possibility of an appeal process, without the possibility of appealing against this very wrong judgment, decided to impose heavy fines. I believe that – regardless of what the regulations of the European Court of Justice are – we will certainly appeal against it and appeal not only to common sense,” said Mateusz Morawiecki. He added that he would talk to the prime ministers of European countries on this matter. Morawiecki informed that, as promised by the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, on Thursday, or on Friday at the latest, the complaint submitted by the Czech Republic will be withdrawn. „So all penalties become pointless. So from today or tomorrow this problem does not exist at all,” added the Prime Minister.