(BASEL/BRUSSELS/BUCHAREST) Wednesday, 11 February 2026 – Today, civil society organisations, environmental defenders, scientists, and public interest groups delivered a clear message to the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Environment (DG-ENV), in an open letter signed by more than 35 organisations. They warn that proposed new rules in Romania would undermine the conservation of the country’s most ecologically valuable areas – including primary and old-growth forests – and jeopardise the achievement of the 10% strict protection target set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. They therefore call on the Commission to issue an urgent warning to prevent Romania from adopting such regulations.
The proposed amendments to Romania’s main regulation transposing the Habitats Directive (OUG 57/2007), intended for adoption through a fast-track procedure, would make the designation of strict protection zones conditional on the agreement of landowners or administrators. Estimates indicate that up to 80% of the territory already mapped and scientifically identified for strict protection (around 1.8 million hectares) could ultimately be excluded from protection due to the absence of such agreement. The proposed rules would also apply to strict protection zones within already existing Natura 2000 sites, likely affecting the integrity of those sites – in breach of the EU Habitats Directive, international commitments and even the Romanian Constitution.
The Romanian Ministry of Environment has proposed the regulatory amendments under strong political and industry pressure. It argues that the new rules are needed to meet commitments made under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), in particular placing at least 10% of the national territory under strict protection. However, it is precisely the introduction of an “owner agreement” requirement that would likely reduce this area to below 500,000–600,000 hectares, representing only 2–3% of Romania’s territory. This would send an unwelcome signal to other Member States regarding the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, particularly as Romania is among the first to complete the mapping process for strict protection.
Proper implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and PNRR requires sustainable financing mechanisms to compensate landowners affected by restrictions on resource exploitation, such as logging and agriculture. To date, however, the Romanian government has failed to establish such mechanisms, although suitable funding exists.
“Going ahead with such regulatory changes not only goes against EU and national law but could cost Romania millions of euros in EU funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ongoing forest degradation and growing impacts of climate change in Romania – seen in last summer’s catastrophic floods – leave no doubt about the policies and on-the-ground action we need,” noted Ines Gavrilut, Campaigner at the Bruno Manser Fonds.
"Leaving at least 10% of the country to nature would secure 90% of the rest of the territory against extreme weather events. This requires a joint cross-party commitment from mayors and the ministry, who this time must bow their heads and pens to science," said Gabriel Păun, President of Agent Green, Romania.
"The agreement of landowners is not won through statements, but through compensation paid on time. The Minister of the Environment has this responsibility because Romania collects billions of Lei in taxes precisely for nature conservation," highlighted Ciprian Gălușcă, Coordinator, Platform for Climate Adaptation (PAC), Romania.