Deputy Infrastructure Minister Marek Gróbarczyk accused the German federal states of obstructing important Polish infrastructure investments. Brandenburg opposes the reconstruction of groynes regulating the Oder River, citing environmental protection, while Mecklenburg obstructs the construction of a container terminal in Świnoujście.

A guest on Polish Radio 24’s Morning Talk programme revealed that Germany’s Brandenburg is blocking a Polish investment to improve the regulation of the Oder river downstream. This involves the construction of so-called groynes to regulate the river. As the deputy minister explained, what is actually being discussed is the reconstruction of pre-existing groynes and there is no question of a major intervention and a complete change to the environment of the Oder.

This is all the more bizarre as these investments were signed back then by Ewa Kopacz as part of a joint agreement with Germany”, recalled Deputy Minister Gróbarczyk. Blocking this investment is a completely irrational thing”, he added and explained that the Germans explain their actions with concern for the ecology of the area.

“We do not see any negative ecological action in this, because the Oder River has looked like this for a long time. Besides, this is probably the most ecological way of realising the possibility of maintaining this river”, added Marek Gróbarczyk.

The worst thing in this whole affair is that the suspension of the investment was ordered by a Polish court. However, Poland will appeal against this decision and there is no doubt that the investment will be realised”, assured the deputy head of the Ministry of Infrastructure.

During the broadcast, it turned out that Brandenburg is not the only German state which is making attempts to block Polish investments.  Mecklenburg is making comments and wants to block the construction of the container terminal in Świnoujście. As Deputy Minister Gróbarczyk noted, the terminal is currently being designed and it is at the final stage of signing an agreement already with the contractor and operator, i.e. the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście, he added.

Adrian Andrzejewski