Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001990/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nicolae Ştefănuță (Verts/ALE)
The Zamostea-Luncă Forest is a unique, old-growth riparian forest in Romania, protected as a national nature reserve since 1973, which partially overlaps with a Natura 2000 site. Concerns have recently been raised by civil society and environmental experts regarding a proposed infrastructure project – the ‘Vârful Câmpului Complex Development’ – which may have significant impacts on the forest and surrounding ecosystems, including on highly fertile agricultural land and the free-flowing section of the Siret river.
Despite the project having previously been rejected by the Romanian Parliament, recent developments suggest that the use of emergency procedures may allow it to continue, bypassing the usual public consultation and environmental safeguards.
- 1.In the light of increasing reports of nationally significant infrastructure projects being advanced in or near protected areas in several Member States, how is the Commission assessing the adequacy of current safeguards to ensure that Natura 2000 sites, such as the Zamostea-Luncă Forest in Romania, are not adversely affected by such developments?
- 2.Can the Commission clarify whether such projects, where derogations are introduced via emergency legislation, are compatible with EU environmental law, particularly the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (2011/92/EU)?
- 3.Does the Commission intend to request further information from the Romanian authorities to ensure that EU environmental safeguards and public participation requirements are being upheld in this case?
Submitted: 19.5.2025