Romania Targets Greenpeace with Legal Action Amidst Environmental Tensions

The Romanian government has launched a legal offensive against Greenpeace Romania, as the state-owned energy company Romgaz seeks to dissolve the environmental organization. This move has raised alarms among critics who view it as part of a broader pattern of government attempts to silence civic voices.

Romgaz, which is predominantly owned by the Romanian state, filed the lawsuit with backing from the Energy Ministry. Observers, including political scientists, suggest that this is indicative of increasing scrutiny faced by environmental and human rights NGOs in the country. Recent trends have included unexpected inspections, overwhelming reporting demands, and public criticisms aimed at undermining the legitimacy of these organizations.

The conflict is deeply intertwined with Romania's plans to exploit significant natural gas reserves located in the Black Sea. Romgaz, in partnership with Austrian firm OMV, aims to extract approximately 100 billion cubic meters of gas, a project expected to bolster Romania's energy independence and generate substantial revenue. However, environmental advocates, particularly Greenpeace, argue that such activities could jeopardize the European Union's climate goals.

Greenpeace has actively protested against the Neptun Deep project and has initiated several legal challenges in response. Recently, the organization faced setbacks in court, resulting in financial liabilities of tens of thousands of euros to Romgaz and OMV. Greenpeace contends that these legal challenges are attempts to intimidate them and exhaust their resources.

In a peculiar twist, Romgaz has alleged that Greenpeace operates under two different tax registrations, claiming this as a means to evade penalties. Greenpeace has refuted these allegations, stating that the existence of separate tax numbers for national and international operations is standard practice.

This lawsuit is seen by many as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP), aimed at dissuading NGOs from pursuing legal avenues or engaging in public discourse. The Energy Minister, who has publicly supported Romgaz's actions, has accused Greenpeace of engaging in fraudulent practices, further intensifying the situation.

The Romanian Energy Ministry has distanced itself from the lawsuit, asserting that the legal action is a matter for Romgaz alone. However, the Minister's previous comments encouraging corporate legal actions against environmental groups have led over a hundred NGOs to demand his resignation, citing attempts to undermine civil society.

Since 2021, environmental organizations in Romania have faced increased scrutiny, with parliamentary inquiries suggesting that they have contributed to rising energy prices by blocking energy projects. These claims have been strongly contested by the NGOs, which argue that they are being unfairly scapegoated.

In light of these developments, the UN's special rapporteur on environmental defenders has expressed serious concerns regarding what he termed a campaign of harassment against environmental activists in Romania.

Greenpeace representatives have voiced their worry that the mounting legal pressures may deter them from pursuing further action against Romgaz, particularly given the considerable financial risks associated with potential legal losses. The Energy Ministry has also insinuated links between Greenpeace and Russian interests, a claim that has been firmly denied by the organization, which has faced restrictions in Russia since being labeled as an undesirable entity.