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| Bialowieza Forest: Poland sued over ancient woods logging | Bialowieza Forest: Poland sued over ancient woods logging |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The EU executive has urged Poland to halt logging immediately in one of Europe's last remaining areas of primeval forest, and has asked the European Court of Justice to act on it. | The EU executive has urged Poland to halt logging immediately in one of Europe's last remaining areas of primeval forest, and has asked the European Court of Justice to act on it. |
| Last year the Polish government decided to increase logging in Bialowieza Forest, a unique ancient habitat and conservation area, three-fold. | Last year the Polish government decided to increase logging in Bialowieza Forest, a unique ancient habitat and conservation area, three-fold. |
| Unesco, EU officials and green activists protested at that move. | Unesco, EU officials and green activists protested at that move. |
| The government says the logging can help to curb a bark beetle infestation. | The government says the logging can help to curb a bark beetle infestation. |
| But the European Commission says some endangered species are at risk. | But the European Commission says some endangered species are at risk. |
| The forest lies on Poland's eastern border with Belarus. | The forest lies on Poland's eastern border with Belarus. |
| It is famous as a home for rare European bison, but also boasts many bird species including varieties of woodpecker and flycatcher. | It is famous as a home for rare European bison, but also boasts many bird species including varieties of woodpecker and flycatcher. |
| The Commission's move comes a day after Poland's government drew strong criticism from EU officials and human rights campaigners over a new law on appointing judges. | The Commission's move comes a day after Poland's government drew strong criticism from EU officials and human rights campaigners over a new law on appointing judges. |
| Parliament, instead of judges themselves, will have the power to select 15 of the 25 judges on the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), whose role is to guarantee judicial independence. | |
| Critics see it as a politicisation of the justice system, undermining the separation of powers. | Critics see it as a politicisation of the justice system, undermining the separation of powers. |
| In an earlier move, Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government also revamped the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland's highest court. Critics said the reform would make it harder for the tribunal to block PiS policies. | |
| Defiance of EU could mean fines | |
| By Adam Easton, BBC correspondent in Warsaw | |
| The EU Commission took the unusual step of asking the court to impose an immediate ban on the logging because it takes on average two years to reach a judgment in cases like these, and the EU is worried the logging is already causing irreparable damage. | |
| The EU's top court may decide to impose the ban before it breaks for summer recess on 21 July. | |
| If it eventually rules that Poland has infringed EU environmental regulations, it can impose hefty fines on Warsaw. | |
| However, this case only refers to a single area in the forest, and Poland's environment ministry could decide to increase logging in two other forest districts. | |
| Poland's PiS government has refused to back down in other disputes with Brussels. The Commission is investigating whether the government committed a serious breach of the rule of law in its handling of the country's top court, the Constitutional Tribunal. |