Poland takes Germany to EU court over illegal waste
by AFP Staff Writers
Warsaw (AFP) Nov 29, 2023

Poland's government said Wednesday it had filed a complaint against Germany with an EU court, accusing its western neighbour of having failed to clean up waste deposited illegally on Polish territory.

The case concerns 35,000 tonnes of waste shipped illegally by German firms to seven different locations in western Poland in 2013-2018.

"Poland has filed a complaint against Germany with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to fulfil its obligations under EU law," the Polish environment ministry said in a statement.

Last month, Poland brought the matter before the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- which sided with Warsaw regarding the Tuplice site containing more than half of the waste.

"Germany has failed to comply with its obligations... by failing to take back, within the 30-day time limit, the waste from one location," the Commission said at the time.

The opinion from Brussels paved the way for Warsaw to submit a case to the court.

"Despite its initial written assurances to the European Commission, the Federal Republic of Germany has taken no action to ensure that the waste is removed," Poland's environment ministry said.

"As a result, the matter is still not resolved and the lingering waste poses a constant threat to the environment. That is why Poland decided to file a complaint with the CJEU," it added.

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