Where Poland, Czechia and Germany meet, a thirsty coal mine threatens to leave 30,000 people without water but local communities are not giving in.

Situated in a thin strip of Polish land bordering the Czech region of Liberec and the German state of Saxony, the Turów open-pit lignite mine is already drying up water resources from two countries. Polish state-owned company PGE is now planning to expand of the mine and re-licence its operation until 2044. This would result in a water grab of the groundwaters of a whole region, in breach of EU laws.

Determined to defend their access to a vital resource, local communities are coming together and asking the EU to intervene and stop the mine expansion – yet time is running out. Supported by EEB member Frank Bold and by Greenpeace, representatives from the Liberec region and impacted citizens handed the European Parliament a petition signed by more than 13,000 Europeans in three months.

META talked to them about the Turów water grab and heard their stories.

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