Environmental groups unite to block oil and gas drilling near Usedom

Canadian firm Central European Petroleum plans to explore oil and gas extraction in the Pomeranian Bay close to the German island of Usedom, an area adjacent to European marine protected zones. The Deutsche Umwelthilfe, BUND Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, WWF Germany and the citizen initiative Lebensraum Vorpommern have formed a joint alliance to oppose the project and reserve the right to take legal action. They call on the German federal and state governments and the EU Commission to prevent any licensing, noting potential damage to climate, tourism and endangered species such as the Baltic humpback whale. The alliance has also gathered about 88 000 signatures in a pan‑European petition that will be submitted to Brussels in September. A recent exploratory well near Swinoujscie, Poland, indicated a large oil deposit, but no permit has been granted yet.