On 22 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted an implementing decision amending its 2021 approval of Romania's recovery and resilience plan, adding two new components on water management and forests/biodiversity protection. The updated plan allocates additional loans and grants for water infrastructure, dam safety, and forest conservation, with all measures required to do no significant harm to the environment.
The amendment builds on the original Council Implementing Decision of 29 October 2021, which approved Romania's national recovery plan under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The new components introduce 2 reforms and 5 investments for water management, and 2 reforms and 5 investments for forests and biodiversity, all with specific milestones and targets.
Under the water management component, Romania commits to amending Law No 241/2006 by Q4 2021 to speed tariff approval, oblige user connections, and prohibit untreated wastewater discharge. A "First Connection to Water and Sanitation" programme for low-income households is to be launched by Q1 2022, with implementation agreements signed by Q4 2022. By Q1 2026, studies for 11 river basins must be completed, and legislation enacted to increase cost recovery for water resources. Investments include constructing 288.3 km of water distribution networks, 975 km of sewerage networks, and 9,545 individual wastewater systems by Q2 2026, as well as rehabilitating the Lesu dam and Salard polder for flood prevention. All 11 River Basin Administrations are to be equipped with machinery, drones, and geo-radar technologies for flood monitoring by Q2 2026. A water cadastre, including a Digital Terrain Model and software for river bed monitoring, is to be delivered by Q4 2025.
The forests and biodiversity component requires adoption of the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 by Q3 2022, setting binding rules for climate-resilient species, prohibiting afforestation on high-value agricultural land or wetlands, and requiring urban afforestation to strengthen connectivity. Investments cover afforestation and reforestation (including urban forests), modernisation of tree nurseries, creation of strict protection areas in Natura 2000 sites, a wild sturgeon monitoring system on the Lower Danube, and integrated flood risk mitigation in forest river basins. All investments in this component are non-repayable.
The updated plan is expected to have significant impacts on several stakeholders. Romanian water utilities and regional operators will face new obligations to expand networks and connect households, particularly in rural areas, while also benefiting from EU-funded investments. The National Water Administration (ANAR) will see strengthened capacity for emergency response and flood monitoring, but must increase its own revenues through cost-recovery tariffs. Forest owners and managers will need to comply with the new National Forest Strategy, which restricts afforestation on certain land types and mandates climate-resilient species, potentially affecting land use decisions. Environmental NGOs and local communities stand to gain from improved water access, reduced flood risk, and enhanced biodiversity protection, including strict protection areas and sturgeon monitoring.
The Council's decision now paves the way for Romania to implement the new components, with the European Commission expected to monitor progress against the defined milestones and targets. Disbursements under the Recovery and Resilience Facility will be linked to satisfactory fulfilment of these conditions.