Czech Republic turns to EC over Polish Turow mine extension

The Czech Environment and Foreign ministries sent on Wednesday a complaint to the European Commission over the extension of the Polish Turow lignite mine situated close to the Czech border, the Environment Ministry has announced. The Czech authorities are convinced that Warsaw has violated the duties ensuing from four EU directives and directly from the EU Treaty by the mining licence extension. The EC should comment on the complaint within three months. The Czech Republic will then decide on further steps. "If our reasons for a lawsuit are relevant and sufficiently strong in terms of the EU legislation, the Czech Republic will most probably file a lawsuit against Poland itself," the Environment Ministry said.