Wojciech Dąbrowski, CEO of the PGE: the finding of the Court of Justice of the European Union is undermining the European Green Deal and is just a blackmail

It would inevitably disturb the Polish and European energy system, in which Turów plays an important role as one of the most important components - it provides up to 7% of energy demand in Poland.

- Turów lignite mine has a valid, legally issued license and on that basis mining is and will be carried out. The CJEU's decision is a path to a 'grim deal' energy transformation. This is the first real test of the European Green Deal, that supposed to be based on solidarity and just energy transition and not a programme supporting the unjust competition - says Wojciech Dąbrowski, the President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) treated both the Polish explanations and the entire situation of Turów complex very selectively. The arguments of Poland were ignored or distorted. A paradox emerged in which Poland's voluntary and extra action for additional water protection in the Czech Republic was presented as a confirmation of the allegations.

- Several dozen kilometers away from Turów, and even several hundred meters from the Polish border, there are 9 operating mines: 5 in the Czech Republic, 4 in Germany. The European Union allows them to continuously operate despite there much bigger impact on the environment. PGE therefore does not agree to unequal treatment of economic activity depending on the company's nationality. The example of Turów shows that the energy and coal interests of other countries are to be developed at the expense of the Polish site - adds Wojciech Dąbrowski.

The decision of the CJEU leads to forcing Poland to import lignite from the Czech Republic or Germany, as well as fossil-based electricity.

Turów complex provides jobs for thousands of Polish citizens, securing the living for tens of thousands of people who would be faced with losing their livelihood all of a sudden. If all units in Turów were to be shut down, it would be impossible to restart them up in future. Therefore, temporary closure of mines and power plants would in fact mean their permanent liquidation many months before the complaint is resolved.