The European Commission asked Poland to comply with EU environmental legislation pertaining to flood prevention and risk management, the EC said in a statement on July 14 2010.

At least three people have died due to flooding in the country, including a fireman who suffered from a heart attack during a rescue mission. One man is reported to have gone missing near Zywiec, Silesia, after he jumped into a river to rescue his son.

In addition to that, some 340 people have been evacuated from areas in the Malpolska province, with an ongoing operations struggling to evacuate further 1500 residents in the Brzesko district. According to international media reports, In surrounding provinces, 70 people have been taken to safety in Silesia and 54 have been evacuated in the Podkarpacie province. Over 8000 soldiers have been put on standby with specialist equipment to help in rescue efforts.

Roads in the area of Cieszyn have been submerged by flood water, including the town of Zebrzydowice. while dozens of towns and settlements in the Beskid lowlands have been affected by rivers bursting their banks, such as the Choczenka in Wadowice, around 50 km south-west of Krakow

To add insult to injury, Poland has failed to inform the commission about the implementation of the flood prevention and risk management legislation, which was due by November 2009, the EC said. Poland now has "two months to inform the Commission of measures taken to comply with the request for information, which takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures."

If Poland fails to deliver a "satisfactory response" the commission may refer Poland to the Court of Justice, the report said.

The directive in question requires European member states to carry out a preliminary assessment by 2011 to identify the river basins and associated coastal which are prone to high risk of flooding. Subsequently, on the basis of the research and data submitted, flood-hazard risk maps are then to be drawn up for such zones by 2013, with flood risk management plans following two year later, by 2015. The risk maps focus on prevention, protection and preparedness.

Poland was supposed to have done its research, assessed the data and submitted the report along with other member states by November 26 2009, the report said.