EC still waits for Warsaw response over Białowieża Forest

In mid-June, the European Commission launched proceedings against Poland for logging Europe's last primeval forest, Białowieża. The Polish government is yet to respond to the Commission. "We are in regular contact with the European Commission. We are examining documentation, and we are open for any further questions," Deputy Environment Minister Andrzej Konieczny said in June, the latest official statement by the Polish Environment Ministry. "We would love to see a withdrawal from the logging, but we are totally open for whatever justification the Polish authorities may wish to put forward," said Humberto Delgado Rosa from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action, in an interview with the PAP news agency. The Polish official added that "woodcutting operations are now underway in the Białowieża forest. They are aimed at ensuring safety for local residents and their property." Almost the entire area of the Białowieża Forest has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 23, 2014.