Poland’s Lack of Transposition of the Water Framework Directive Especially Worrying Given Plans for Shale Gas Expansion
Press Statement: Brussels – "Food & Water Europe is disappointed that Poland has failed for eight years to implement the European Union’s Water Framework Directive. Poland was recently reprimanded by EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik on its inability to establish a national monitoring programme on the health of its surface waters and groundwater. This is particularly worrying given Poland’s plans to encourage shale gas extraction on a large scale."
Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director Food & Water Europe
Brussels – “Food & Water Europe is disappointed that Poland has failed for eight years to implement the European Union’s Water Framework Directive. Poland was recently reprimanded by EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik on its inability to establish a national monitoring programme on the health of its surface waters and groundwater. This is particularly worrying given Poland’s plans to encourage shale gas extraction on a large scale.”
“As the Polish government embraces widespread drilling and fracking for shale gas, the absence of a meaningful water monitoring programme is highly problematic. Fracking has led to thousands of cases in the United States of water contamination by leaks, spills, blowouts, and improper treatment of wastewater. The absence of a programme to monitor water quality will leave the Polish government without any baseline studies to properly assess the environmental and health impacts of fracking. Poland will essentially be flying blind, unable to assess environmental damage, let alone take remedial action.”
Contact: Geert De Cock tel. +32 (0) 2 893 10 45, mobile +32 (0)484 629 491, gdecock(at)fweurope.org