Prague, May 2 (CTK) – The Czech government has listed the Labe (Elbe) River canyon valley as a European protected area, but not the meadows on the Labe near Prelouc, East Bohemia, as demanded by the European Commission, Environment Minister Richard Brabec (ANO) told journalists on Monday.
The European Commission demands that the Natura 2000 list be widened by the two localities. So far, the Czech Republic has resisted the plan over its transport projects. In the case of the Labe, this is the planned weir in Decin, north Bohemia.
The decision was praised by the Greens from the Usti Region, who consider the water project irresponsible.
The government has repeatedly postponed the decision.
Brabec said the government would now wait for the position Brussels would adopt on this step.
At first, the Czech Republic was to send its position by the past Tuesday. The Environment Ministry had asked Brussels to prolong the deadline by one month, but the EC did not comply with the request.
If the localities are not listed at all, the domestic water transport may lose up to seven billion crowns from European subsidies. Brussels has also decided to take action against the Czech Republic over its violation of the European law due to the omission of the protected localities on the Labe.
This is the first stage of a multiple-step process. In an extreme case, the state may pay a one-off fine of two million euros and the penalty of 10,000 euros a day until the localities are listed.
The national list was established in 2005. Since then it has been twice updated.
Brussels assessed it four years ago. At that time, the EU insisted on the listing of seven European-important specific areas with protected fauna and flora.
The Labe Valley is to be protected in its section between the state border with Germany and its confluence with the Ohre (Eger) River.
Brussels has demanded the conservation of the Labe Valley over the protection of the salmon, beaver and other species.
The proposal was later modified into the form of Porta Bohemica. However, transport and development businesses are against the conservation project.
The construction of a weir near Decin has been planned for over 20 years and an artificial riverbed is being planned for the area near Prelouc due to which the river would be better navigable for large ships.
The transport, regional development and agriculture ministries as well as the Association of Towns and Villages and other institutions are opposed to the conservation plan. They argue with the navigability and with the Labe as a water course of international importance.
