Poland cannot be fined for logging: environment minister

Szyszko’s statement followed the European Court of Justice's decision on Monday that Poland could face fines of EUR 100,000 (PLN 423,000 ) for each day that it does not comply with a ban on logging in the Białowieża forest.

Szyszko insisted that Poland has abided by European Union laws since a Natura 2000 protection programme was introduced and since Warsaw and Brussels first butted heads over the forest earlier in the year.

According to the European Commission, logging in the ancient forest violated the bloc's bird and habitat protection rules.

But Poland claimed that its logging activities aimed to protect mushroom pickers and other people entering the forests from falling trees weakened by a plague of the spruce bark beetle. (vb/pk)

Source: PAP