Strasbourg, 12 November 2003 T-PVS/Files (2003) 26 [files26e_2003.doc] CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Standing Committee 23rd meeting Strasbourg, 1-4 December-2003 ________ Possible New File Construction of the Via Baltica Motorway : conflicts with nature values in protected areas (North-East of Poland) Report of the on-the-spot appraisal (14-15.10.2003) Document prepared by prof. Eckhart Kuijken Institute of Nature Conservation, Brussels (Belgium), (
[email protected]) This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire. T-PVS/Files (2003) 26 - 2 - 1. Introduction and general background information The planned construction of the so called ‘Via Baltica’ expressway envisages the connection of Helsinki (SF) through the Baltic states and Poland with Germany, thus connecting the capitals of these countries. The concept exists since 1988 and the overall project was discussed at the Conference of the Baltic Countries Ministers of Transport in 1994. The justification of this project as a whole, also called the ‘first Pan-European Transport Corridor’, includes the great symbolism of this initiative, especially for the states under former communism regimes formerly and now becoming members of the EU. In Poland this project has been subject to studies, consultations and discussions at different levels since 1988. In 1993 in the Motorways Building Programme approved the construction of Via Baltica, but this proposal was opposed by the Environment Ministry because of the link with Bialystok. In 1995 the Road authorities published 3 alternative routes but did not include environmental costs needed for compensation or mitigation of negative effects.