EC starts infringement against Romania on micro hydropower plants in protected areas

The European Commission has started a new infringement procedure against Romania because of some micro hydropower plant projects in protected areas, on the Dejani-Lupsa and Vistisoara rivers in Fagaras Mountains, according to WWF Romania. The organization says it has information that the infringement also targets other destructive projects located on the South side of the Fagaras Mountains, on Capra and Buda rivers. The EC confirmation comes one year and a half after WWF filed two official notifications to the Commission, warning over a series of violations of the European and national legislation on water and biodiversity. They targeted the authorization and placement of constructions in protected areas of European interest (Natura 2000). According to WWF Romania, other projects have been illegally approved on the Alb river in Retezat Mountains and Bistra Marului, Sucu and Olteana rivers in Tarcu Mountains. In a statement, WWF calls for the urgent intervention of the Ministry of Environment in these cases. According to the organization, the Ministry never reacted to the notifications made by WWF and Natura 2000 Coalition. European Commission starts infringement against Romania. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com