MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Current Polish legislation permits drilling to be carried out at a depth of up to 5 kilometers (some 3 miles) without first assessing its environmental impact, which does not comply with the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA). Under the EIA an environmental assessment is required for such drilling.
"The European Commission is referring Poland to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to ensure that the environmental impacts of exploratory mining drillings are properly assessed," the statement reads.
It was noted in the statement that the commission already voiced its opinion on the issue in February 2015.
The EIA requires that projects that could have a negative impact on the environment be thoroughly assessed before such projects are approved.
