Today, the Oder is the best-studied river in Europe due to the permanent online monitoring we have installed and the increase in manual measurement points and the number of parameters monitored

– said Minister Anna Moskwa after the meeting.

We are doing everything possible to prevent this harmful, invasive alien species of golden algae from developing in the Oder River. The Oder's resources are recovering. We have allocated PLN 14 million from 5 provincial environmental protection and water management funds to the Oder River Biodiversity Restoration Programme. It is scheduled until 2025 but will be extended if necessary

– Minister Anna Moskwa added.

As the Minister of Climate and Environment reported in line with last year's agreement, a team of experts on both sides has been actively working to exchange information about the situation in the Oder River. They gave each other reports with the results of studies performed on both sides of the border.

The last time was an exchange of information between the parties, also in the form of expert workshops. We have worked with experts from the countries where the golden alga has dumped toxins. We carried out activities that could block the discharge of toxins

– said Minister Anna Moskwa during the meeting.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment, together with its subordinate units (the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection and the General Directorate of Environmental Protection), as well as other competent Polish institutions, have been taking adequate measures since last year to control the effects of the golden algae phenomenon, while intensifying the current monitoring and control activities.

I want to assure you that the absolute priority for the Polish Government is to prevent possible disasters in the future and to restore the original state of the Oder River together with the renewal of the fish population

– noted Anna Moskwa.

Furthermore, during the meeting, the Polish Minister raised the issue related to the intergovernmental agreement between Poland and Germany on the joint maintenance of the Oder River, which was signed in 2015. She stressed that Poland intends to implement it consistently and expects the same from its German partner. She added that international agreements should be honoured. The international agreement concerns maintenance and investment regarding the Oder River. In it, the parties undertake to implement infrastructure and maintenance projects, protect the river's environment and improve the navigability of this international waterway.

Minister Anna Moskwa also referred to the verdict of the Voivodeship Administrative Court concerning the concession for the Turów Coal Mine for the extraction of lignite until 2044. She recalled that for Poland, the Turów power station, which uses lignite from the mine, is one of the 'main energy centres,' producing up to 7 % of the output on the Polish side. Besides, it provides, among other things, hot water for the region's inhabitants.

In this area, there is 1 mine on the Polish side, 7 on the German side and 5 on the Czech side. In our proceedings, we respect the right of each country to choose the mixed option, which is why we are concerned about the conduct of the German city.

– Minister Anna Moskwa stated.

She recalled that the city of Zittau had been involved in the appeal procedure, which lasted 2 years, and that it had signed an agreement.

I would be grateful for a good dialogue on the German side so that this does not happen again

– stated the Polish Minister of Climate and Environment.

****

From 26 July 2022 to 15 May 2023, in connection with activities in the Oder River, the Central Research Laboratory of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection performed nearly 57,000 analyses. Samples are taken twice a week (Monday and Thursday) at 27 measurement and control points in the Oder and 9 automatic stations. Automatic monitoring data for the Oder River have been available at gov.pl/odra since 30 May 2023. The first stage of system calibration has been completed. This is a pilot system where different types of probes – floating and anchored on hydro-technical devices (to select the optimal solution) – are tested. The system continues to be expanded and calibrated.

One of the intervention activities in the Oder River is to neutralise the golden algae bloom or at least control its development. Such measures were carried out in the Gliwice Canal at the end of May 2023, and before that, protective nets were put in place on the oxbow lakes to prevent fish from entering the sites of the golden algae bloom.