Groningen Fined for Lack of Bat Flight Route

The municipality of Groningen has been fined 100,000 euros for failing to provide a safe flight route for bats near the Groningen Europapark station. This penalty stems from a lawsuit filed by the Stichting Vleermuiswerkgroep Groningen, which began in 2020, due to the city’s initial approval of a new station project that disregarded bat conservation requirements. The Raad van State ruled that the municipality had not fulfilled its obligations under the Flora-Fauna Act, highlighting the lack of a continuous tree canopy and unsuitable lighting for the bat colony.

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