The President of the Eco-Civica Foundation, Dan Trifu, warns that the law amending protected natural areas, adopted by Parliament on Wednesday, blatantly violates European directives on biodiversity protection.
In an interview with RFI Romania, he stated that he will notify the European Commission, the People’s Advocate, the President of Romania, and the parties that opposed the law.
"We will notify the European Commission, clearly, we have already prepared the letter to the People's Advocate and the President of Romania, and to those political groups that did not vote for this law, in order to challenge it at the Constitutional Court," announced Dan Trifu.
Dan Trifu accuses that the law adopted by Parliament paves the way for the destruction of ecosystems of major importance. "For the nine hydrotechnical developments, imagine what damage we can cause. All of them are in protected areas or significantly affect protected areas, including nationally important parks for all biodiversity in Romania," he stated.
He provided the example of the Surduc power plant: "To produce 5 MW and dry up a river, to endanger the entire ecosystem in that area, similar things in other mini-hydropower plants, as we call them."
"We will notify the European Commission, clearly, we have already prepared the letter to the People's Advocate and the President of Romania, and to those political groups that did not vote for this law, in order to challenge it at the Constitutional Court," he affirmed.
The law passed by Parliament on Wednesday allows for the modification of protected natural areas to allow for the completion of hydropower plants started before 2007. The project was supported by PSD, PNL, UDMR, and AUR, while USR deputies opposed it.
The Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu (USR), strongly criticized the adopted law and warned that the legal changes risk compromising Romania's international commitments in the field of environmental protection.
On the other hand, PSD Senator Daniel Zamfir accused USR of representing the interests of environmental NGOs. "USR is the political arm of NGOs that hinder the country's development," he declared.
Environmentalists warn that the law endangers fragile ecosystems and could attract European sanctions.