11:11 18 September 2022
MEPs travel to Poland to assess situation of Białowieża Forest and use of spyware
A delegation of the Petitions Committee, headed by Chair Dolors Montserrat (EPP, ES), will take stock of the state of the protected Białowieża Forest during their visit to Poland.
During their visit from 19 to 21 September, MEPs will travel to Poland–Belarus border to visit Białowieża Forest, one of the largest remaining old-growth forests in Europe. They will hear from local petitioners about a project to upgrade local roads and its compatibility with nature protection in the natural park. MEPs will also meet with local forest management and national park authorities, and exchange views with Małgorzata Golińska, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
On the same days, a delegation of ten MEPs from the EP’s spyware inquiry committee will be in Warsaw to hear from victims of spyware, local politicians, and other experts. During their visit, MEPs will meet with members of the Polish Senate’s special committee on Pegasus, members of the Sejm, and representatives of the Supreme Audit Office and the Ombudsman’s office. They will also speak to judges to learn about judicial oversight of surveillance, hear from experts on the country’s security services, meet with victims of spyware to listen to their testimonials, and sit down with journalists, NGO personnel, and other experts.
(WBJ)
