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Commission is calling on ROMANIA to combat illegal logging and better protect forests in its Natura 2000 sites
The Commission is urging Romania to properly implement the EU Timber Regulation (Regulation (EU) 995/2010), which forbids producing and placing on the EU market products made from illegally harvested logs. The national authorities have been unable to effectively check the operators and apply appropriate sanctions.
Inconsistences in the national legislation do not allow Romanian authorities to check large amounts of illegally harvested timber. In addition, the Commission has found that the Romanian authorities manage forests, including by authorising logging, without evaluating beforehand the impacts on protected habitats as required under the Habitats Directive and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives.
Furthermore, there are shortcomings in the access of the public to environmental information in the forest management plans. The Commission has also found that protected forest habitats have been lost within protected Natura 2000 sites in breach of the Habitats and Birds Directives. Having thoroughly analysed the arguments put forward by Romania following a letter of formal notice sent in February 2020, the Commission has concluded that the problems on the ground have not been addressed.
Therefore, the Commission is now issuing a reasoned opinion. If Romania does not act within one month, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.