“Paradoxically, Poland is falling victim to its economic success. There are many political and economic circles in Europe waiting for us to stumble” – PiS MEP Izabela Kloc comments on the recent decision of the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw regarding the Turów mine in an interview with wPolityce.pl portal .
wPolityce.pl: On May 31, the Warsaw Provincial Administrative Court decided to suspend this decision in case of a complaint against the 2022 environmental decision of the General Directorate of Environmental Protection regarding the exploitation of the Turów lignite deposit. How would you react to a situation where a Polish court, not of the highest rank, – at the request of foreign environmental organizations and undoubtedly acting to the detriment of the Polish economy – completely lawful regulations and decisions of the Polish ministry on the basis of an international agreement between the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic?
Isabella Clock: Action against the Polish economy is rather mild wording. Suspension of coal mining at the Turów mine will automatically close the power plant, which supplies 8 percent of the electricity. energy for Poland. In addition, the Turów industrial complex together with cooperating entities provides a stable livelihood for nearly 80,000 people. people.
This raises another question, this time about the social consequences of the WSA ruling. It would not be a pity, but a serious blow to the Polish economy. It is worth remembering that this is not the first attack on the Turów mine. In 2021, a similar ruling was made by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Subsequently, the Spanish judge signed the verdict. Now this attempt to destabilize the Polish energy sector hurts and shocks more because it is being done by Polish hands.
In 2021, there was debate in some legal circles whether a Spanish judge could be charged with causing an energy disaster. I hope Polish judges know what they are doing.
Why are such absurd situations possible that threaten Poland’s energy security?
When a series of rational arguments have been exhausted, the most obvious solution comes to mind, which is money. The Turów Mine and Power Plant form a large, modern lignite-based energy complex. It is known that this is a competition for this kind of enterprise in Germany. When Turów becomes available, the gap in the European energy system will be filled immediately and “fraternal” Germany will be the first to offer us its electricity.
Paradoxically, Poland is falling victim to its economic success. We have the lowest unemployment and we are developing at a pace other countries of the European Union can only dream of. Thanks to our commitment to saving Ukraine, we are becoming a serious international heavyweight. There are probably many political and economic circles in Europe waiting for us to stumble. Unfortunately, in this dirty game, the judiciary has been reduced to the role of a reliable instrument.
In your opinion, does the decision of the Provincial Administrative Court represent a new phase in the battle between the judiciary and the Polish government, inspired from outside? It’s hard to resist the impression that this is so.
The Polish judiciary, or at least part of it, is already officially involved in the fight against the Law and Justice government. The judges are barred from political activity, but many of them marched openly in Tusk’s recent parade. On the street and abroad – in this scenario of opposition takeover, the judiciary plays an increasingly important role. The analogies with the world of politics are obvious here. In Poland, Germany, the European Commission and a significant part of the European Parliament are playing for the victory of “their” man, namely Donald Tusk. On the other hand, the CJEU does its thing, which, with the support of some Polish judges, legitimizes all, even the most absurd, allegations against Poland.
The decision of the Provincial Administrative Court does not mean an immediate halt to mine operations. It also does not mean – as the Provincial Administrative Court itself has admitted – that environmental organizations who conclude that there is a “danger of causing significant damage to the environment” in Turów are right. What should be done with this decision? How to respond?
It is difficult to find better evidence that the decision of the Provincial Administrative Court has little to do with the judiciary and is based on political interest. Therefore, you need to respond to it with sufficient arguments. Effective politics is the art of compromise, negotiation and red lines. The judges must know that regardless of their verdict, the Turów Mine and Power Plant will operate uninterrupted as long as Law and Justice prevail.
Why is our opposition silent about the decision of the Provincial Administrative Court that is harmful to Poland? Turów is 2 GW of power; complies – as you have already noticed – up to 8 percent. national energy demand. Does this matter to the opposition?
On June 4, we celebrated the sad anniversary of the overthrow of Jan Olszewski’s government by the clique of Wałęsa, Tusk and Pawlak. I remember Prime Minister Olszewski’s poignant parliamentary speech when he asked “whose Poland should be”. If the opposition wins the next election, the question will come back. Donald Tusk and his acolytes are outraged when television recalls the famous fragment of his tribute to Germany. Meanwhile, “für Deutschland” is not a phrase taken out of context at all, but the very context of the PO leader’s activity, which naturally draws the entire opposition into the sphere of his interests, and if he wins the election, will he will do it with Poland. Looking at the decision of the Provincial Administrative Court from this perspective, the collapse of Turów may not be a loss, but a new hand in the energy sector.
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Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.