The Commission is calling on Romania to comply with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). The Directive requires Member States to ensure that urban agglomerations (towns, cities, settlements) properly collect and treat their waste waters, thus eliminating or reducing all their undesirable effects.
The European Green Deal sets a Zero Pollution ambition for the EU. EU legislation, such as the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, aims to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment, and it is essential that Member States implement it fully.
Monitoring data shows that, in Romania, over 180 large agglomerations still do not comply both with obligations related to the collection of their wastewaters and their treatment.
The replies to the letters of formal notice sent to Romania in June 2018 and October 2020 do not satisfactorily address the concerns of the Commission.
Therefore, the Commission has decided today to issue a reasoned opinion. Romania will have two months to reply and take the necessary measures, otherwise the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
