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FOE-CEPA: ECB Loan Approval Process for D1 Construction Suspended
Monday 21 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 21 (TASR) - The approval process for a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the construction of the D1 highway has been temporarily suspended, TASR was told by Friends of the Earth-CEPA media representative Irena Jencova on Monday.
The bank reacted in this way to a complaint from Friends of the Earth-CEPA and SOS-BirdLife Slovakia.
CEPA informed EIB, the European Bank for Renewal and Development (EBRD) and the EU Commission about multiple violations of national and international legislation in the planning of a section of the D1 highway.
The Environment Ministry in 2002 approved building the highway via the Korbelka tunnel near the village of Sutovo (Zilina region), thereby avoiding surface construction in protected areas. The National Highway Company (NDS) ignored this measure and pushed for a surface variant that would pass through the Mala and Velka Fatra national parks, other protected areas from the Natura 2000 system and an area close to Sutovo. The ministry's measures weren't taken into account by the relevant construction office either, and this, according to CEPA, constitutes a violation of national and international legislation.
EIB said that before the loan is signed, the accused party must present documents that will either confirm or refute the violation charges. According to the bank's statement, NDS must prove that no other alternative than a surface one exists.
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