Ministry of Environment announces acceleration of Natura 2000 reform to avoid European sanctions

Romania has made real and visible progress in the infringement case opened by the European Commission in 2025 concerning the failure to fulfill obligations regarding Natura 2000 sites. After nearly a decade of delays and administrative bottlenecks, Romanian authorities have adopted 30% of the management plans and conservation measures that were missing for dozens of protected areas in the last six months. These important developments come at a time when compliance with the European directive is essential for continued access to billions of euros in investment funds. „In June 2025, a reasoned opinion was issued concerning the failure to designate 169 sites of Community importance as special areas of conservation, the lack of adequate conservation objectives for over 200 sites, and the (…)