Poland has taken a significant step in addressing a long-standing issue by filing a complaint with the European Commission against Germany. The complaint concerns 35,000 tonnes of waste

that Poland alleges was illegally transported from Germany to Polish territory. This move signals the possibility of escalating the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The complaint comes amid an ongoing political dispute in Poland over dumps containing illegally imported waste. A recent warehouse fire that stored chemicals further intensified the issue, leading to finger-pointing between the government and opposition.

Climate Minister Anna Moskwa, who announced the filing of the complaint against Berlin, stressed that Poland has repeatedly approached Germany at both state and federal levels, urging the removal of the waste. She called on the German government to take responsibility for disposing of the waste at seven locations in Poland, emphasizing that Polish taxpayers should not bear the burden of managing German rubbish.

Moskwa also expressed disappointment with Germany, a prominent advocate of EU climate policies, urging them to uphold their commitment to environmental protection by removing the illegal waste from Poland in accordance with the law.

In response to Poland's complaint, Germany's environment ministry spokesperson stated that individual German states bear the responsibility for addressing waste disposal matters rather than the federal government. The ministry plans to review the complaint before deciding on the next steps.

Amidst the political friction, Moskwa accused the former ruling coalition, comprised of the Civic Platform (PO) and Polish People's Party (PSL), now in opposition, of enabling the import of waste into Poland, referring to it as an "El Dorado for rubbish."

The issue remains a matter of concern between the two countries, with Poland seeking resolution and accountability from Germany regarding the alleged illegal waste exports. Photo by ezary p, Wikimedia commons.