Romania's biodiversity strategy adopted in Chamber-approved form; sent for promulgation
Romania's Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill endorsing the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2030, adopting the same version previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
The bill was passed with 79 votes in favour, 30 against and 13 abstentions. It will be sent to President Nicusor Dan for promulgation after the two-day period during which lawmakers may challenge it before the Constitutional Court.
The legislation was initially approved by the Senate on Tuesday as the first chamber notified and passed by the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday with several amendments proposed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD). It subsequently returned to the Senate, under an emergency procedure, for final approval of the newly introduced provisions.
During Thursday's debate, USR Senator Sebastian Cernic criticised the last-minute introduction of around 300 amendments by PSD, accusing the party of either trying to derail the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) milestone linked to the strategy or acting in bad faith.
PSD Senator Daniel Zamfir argued that the amendments sought to strike a balance between Romania's economic development and environmental protection. He maintained that people should take precedence over wildlife and rejected what he described as efforts to hinder the country's development under the pretext of protecting the environment.
National Liberal Party (PNL) Senator Glad Varga stressed that, although approved by law, the strategy does not directly impose restrictions or obligations on citizens, farmers or landowners.
'We must dispel the speculation circulating in the public space: the strategy does not provide for a mandatory 50% reduction in the use of fertilisers and pesticides, but aims only to reduce pollution risks. Likewise, the target of restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 is a globally agreed objective, and where conservation or restoration measures result in restrictions or loss of income, compensation will be provided,' he said.
AUR Senator Laurentiu Plaesu argued that approving such a strategy falls exclusively within the government's remit and criticised the legislative procedure used for its adoption. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)
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