Staff at both the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg city have been told to work from home today (22 October), as thousands of Polish protestors gather outside their buildings.

The protestors are expressing their opposition to  a recent CJEU ruling to close a coal mine and power plant in Poland.

Organisers expect that approximately 2,000 participants will gather outside the CJEU building in Kirchberg this morning.

The ruling was delivered on 21 September, and orders the closure of the Turów coal mine, on the Czech-Polish border, due to water-supply concerns expressed by the Czech government.

Riot police

Large numbers of riot police contained the protestors in the area outside the buildings by erecting barbed wire barriers. The protesting miners banged drums and waved red and white Solidarność (Solidarity) flags. 

Union president Wojciech Ilnicki said yesterday that the trade unionists want to deliver a petition

“If they want to close us, we close the CJEU,” he added.