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Vazny: Only New Projects Concerned by Changes Required by EC
Friday 05 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 5 (TASR) - Changes in the assessment of environmental impact required by the European Commission (EC) and approved by the Government on Friday should only concern new infrastructure projects, Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny said after the extraordinary Government session on the same day.
"In fact, this is only about projects that don't have an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) statement. It won't concern other constructions that are prepared, partially built or those which have it," assured Vazny, specifying that changes may concern highway section R3 Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region) - Sahy (Nitra region), R4 Vysny Komarnik (Presov region) - Presov and R8 Nitra - Topolcany (Nitra region).
Minister Vazny wasn't able to say, however, just how big a delay the changes will mean to the construction of highways in Slovakia. "Now, we not only have to deal with the concerns of non-profit organisations and conservationists, but also with every private entity (that may have some reservations)," he pointed out.
According to Vazny, money from the EU Funds is not jeopardised at the moment. "Certainly not for PPP (public-private projects), partially built and prepared things, where there is the terminal EIA statement," he said.
He said Slovakia will manage to resolve the whole issue by February 15 as required by the EC. The changes are on the agenda of the ongoing session of Parliament and are to be discussed in fast-tracked legislative proceedings.
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