Brussels raises the alarm regarding the Oder. Poland is threatened with a complaint to the CJEU

The European Commission has launched a procedure against Poland for violating European Union law in connection with the situation on the Odra River. According to the EC, the Polish authorities have not done enough to rebuild the river’s ecosystem after the ecological disaster of 2022, which led to mass fish kills and destruction of aquatic life on hundreds of kilometers of the river.

Brussels initiates proceedings against Poland

According to the Commission, the problem has not been resolved despite the passage of time. The announcement emphasized that the condition of waters, habitats and protected species in Poland continues to deteriorate.

In the summer of 2022, there was a sudden bloom of the so-called golden algae. The result was one of the largest ecological disasters in Poland in decades. According to data cited by the European Commission, aquatic life died on approximately 500 kilometers of the river, and over 360 tons of dead fish were fished out of the Oder.

The disaster on the Odra River comes back like a boomerang

The EC points out that the causes of the disaster have not yet been effectively eliminated. This is mainly due to the high salinity of the water and the high concentration of nutrients that favor the development of toxic algae.

According to the Commission, the problem was also visible in 2024, when fish kills were again recorded in the Oder basin. Over 100 tons of dead fish were then fished out of the river.

The EC criticizes the decisions of the Polish authorities

The European Commission accuses Poland of still allowing discharges of salty water into the Oder despite knowing about the threats. According to Brussels, the actions taken after the disaster were insufficient to improve the condition of the river and restore protected species and habitats.

The EC also points out that Poland adopted a water management plan without taking into account the effects of the 2022 disaster. In the Commission’s opinion, this may have violated the provisions regarding the protection of Natura 2000 areas.

Poland is facing a case before the CJEU

For now, the European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Poland. The government has two months to respond and present corrective actions.

If the Commission considers the response to be insufficient, the case may be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. This is the next stage of the procedure, which may end in a serious dispute between Poland and the EU institutions.