Romania risks facing the infringement procedure for protected areas because the Executive did not approve for sufficient areas to be included in Nature 2000’s system. The European Commission requested Romania to designate new or existent sites, according to Natura2000 Romania ONG Coalition.

The 55 organisations making-up the coalition decided to launch a campaign, asking the Government to support the institutions responsible for an efficient managing of the protected areas network. The petition will refer to cases reflecting Romanian law breaching in case of protected areas.

"This situation will soon lead to severe measures from the EC, which could result in ceasing the finance Romania receives. There is the unfavourable context in which the management protected natural sites of national interest takes place - the lack of finance from the Romanian state and the lack of a national coordinating authority; besides, there is also the manner in which Natura 2000 sites are prepared: it will not allow the implementation of specific EU requests. This gets even more serious if we appreciate that Romania is one of the countries in the EU with the richest natural resources and values", a coalition letter reads.

One of the first cases pointed out by Natura 2000 addresses a situation in the National Park and "Muntii Rodnei" (Rodnei Mountains) Natura 2000 site. The cases presentation has already been sent to both Romanian authorities and the European Commission.

The case regarding the situation in Rodnei Mountains

Romuli town hall, from Bistrita Nasaud county (North Romania), sees over Natura 2000 site and The National Park Rodnei Mountains. An access road of nearly 12 kilometres has been built, without the consent of the National Park's Scientific Council. According to the law, any such work needs the consent of the Park's Admin