Editorial: Rospuda's catch-22

There is no doubt that a bypass is necessary. Residents of Augustów have been pleading for an end to the constant stream of trucks rumbling through their city - anyone who's driven through can easily understand their complaint. A road through the valley would provide the easiest solution.

Protests against the bypass have provided images that are unfamiliar in Poland. Pictures of grubby protesters chaining themselves to trees and scenes of Greenpeace activists earnestly defending the need to protect the environment have brought green politics to the forefront of Polish news broadcasts, where such issues are rarely a concern.

The protesters have a point, but there are also some very practical reasons for opposing the current plan. The European Commission is strongly against construction through the valley and has threated to take the case to the European Court of Justice if Poland goes ahead. This could entail fines that could run into millions of euro. Not to mention the damage that would be done to Poland's already tarnished reputation on ecology. In contrast, a more environmentally conscious plan to move the route a few kilometers away would be eligible for EU subsidies, saving the state budget millions.

As bulldozers wait on the sidelines, a decision must be made. President Lech Kaczyński announced last week that he disagreed with the route, and his wife, Maria, also showed solidarity with the protesters.

New court challenges from environmentalists who have revealed that they bought land in the valley last year will ensure the current project's delay. It is high time for the government to show decisive leadership and see that the highway is built as soon as possible along an alternative route.