(ANSA) - BRUSSELS - The European Commission has requested Poland to bring its national laws on the assessment and management of flood risks into line with the Floods Directive. Brussels is sending a reasoned opinion and if Poland fails to act within two months, the EU Commissione may refer Poland the EU Court of Justice.

The Directive aims to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, economic activity and cultural heritage. Under EU law, Member States have to perform flood risk assessments for their river basins, and draw up emergency plans. The EU Commission identified shortcomings in Poland's transposition of this legislation into its domestic law, and sent a letter of formal notice on 18 October 2013.

Poland subsequently notified the amended Water Act, but the transposition of the definition of 'flood' still remains problematic as it restricts the scope of the Directive by excluding some sources of flooding, which may have an impact on the implementation of the whole Directive in Poland. (ANSA).