The Ministry of Energy remains actively concerned with the issue of the systematic blocking of energy projects of vital importance for Romania, for reasons independent of the will of the public authorities or the companies that implement these investments, the relevant minister, Sebastian Burduja, said on Wednesday.
His reaction comes after information appeared in the media according to which DIICOT prosecutors opened a criminal case after Burduja filed a complaint against several organizations that are trying to stop energy projects.
“I know that we disturb many interests, but the only interest I am pursuing is the interest of Romania. The Ministry of Energy remains actively concerned with the problem of the systematic blocking of some energy projects of vital importance for Romania, for reasons independent of the will of the public authorities or the companies that implement these investments. In this sense, we are making every effort, by all legal means, to unlock and/or accelerate all investment projects in Romania. I appreciate all the honest efforts aimed at protecting the environment national security or Romania’s energy security. My only concern is to make sure that projects of strategic interest are not blocked by interests that are not Romania’s, but contrary to national interests,” Sebastian Burduja wrote on his Facebook page, according to Agerpres.
He also emphasized that the Ministry of Energy cannot confirm or deny the existence of a criminal investigation file regarding the facts mentioned in the press article.
“Also, I specify that, according to art. 285 para. (2) C. pen. proc. the procedure during the criminal investigation is non-public. In the case of the existence of a criminal file with the reported facts as its object, we will offer all the competition to the criminal investigation bodies in order to find out the truth and bring the guilty persons to justice,” the Minister of Energy also wrote on the social network.
In its turn, Greenpeace sent a statement according to which the news regarding the criminal case comes after several statements by the Minister of Energy in which he condemns the peaceful protests and the legal forms used by the environmental activists.
“According to statements from sources appearing in the press, DIICOT prosecutors opened a criminal case against the Greenpeace organization, after the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, filed a complaint against several environmental organizations that oppose energy projects with a high level of risk raised for the environment and public health. This news comes after several statements by the Minister of Energy in which he condemns the peaceful protests and the legal forms used by the environmental activists. What interest does the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, have in publicly attacking and even formulating complaints unfounded criminal charges for an organization that uses peaceful protest as a way of action against projects that harm the environment and the future of everyone? Isn’t it an undemocratic act for a minister to try to use criminal investigation bodies with the aim of intimidating civil society organizations who defends the fundamental rights to health and a clean environment?,” the environmental organization reacted.
Greenpeace also says Romanian ministers are putting a “punch in the mouth” of environmental organizations in a growing trend by corporations and governments to crush peaceful protests and critical voices – using draconian laws, abusive lawsuits or even criminal complaints to shut them down. intimidate them.
“Like the Russian Federation, which classified Greenpeace as an “undesirable organization”, Romanian ministers, instead of supporting dialogue, democracy and free elections, found a new way to put their fist in the mouth of environmental organizations. It is part of a growing tendency of corporations and governments to crush peaceful protests and critical voices – using draconian laws, abusive lawsuits or even criminal complaints to silence the people most affected by the climate crisis for more than 50 years, Greenpeace has campaigned to defend people and our natural world from extractive and destructive forces. Does Mr. Burduja know that in Romania most environmental crimes go unpunished? Is it ethical to charge our prosecutors with unfounded criminal complaints? Or does the minister know that filing a criminal complaint about unreal facts is a crime?,” the Greenpeace press release also states.