Lifescape urges Romanian Parliament to reject an amendment restricting judicial suspension of hunting orders

We have formally written to the Romanian Parliament to express our strong concern over a proposed amendment to the national hunting law. If adopted, it would significantly undermine access to justice and the effective enforcement of environmental laws at national, EU and international levels.

Read our letter to the Romanian Parliament here.

What’s the proposed amendment?

Each year, Romania’s Minister of Environment issues orders setting hunting quotas for certain wild animal species. Currently, these orders can be suspended by the courts with immediate effect. This immediacy is essential: it prevents potentially irreversible harm to biodiversity while the courts review whether the orders comply with legal obligations, including EU environmental directives.

The proposed amendment would delay the effect of court suspensions until all possible appeals have been exhausted. In other words, hunting could continue even while the legality of a hunting order was being challenged.

What’s the problem?

Appeals can take years. This means that a suspension which currently takes effect immediately could only come into force months or even years later.

The result? Suspensions of hunting orders would become practically meaningless.

• Hunting orders have annual terms. By the time appeals are exhausted, an order would almost certainly have expired, nullifying any court decision.
• Irreversible harm would occur. By the time a suspension takes effect, the hunting – potentially involving the killing of EU-protected species such as wolves and bears – would already have taken place.

This delay would effectively remove judicial protection against unlawful hunting orders. This not only breaches binding obligations under instruments such as the EU Habitats Directive, the Aarhus Convention, and the European Convention on Human Rights; it undermines core principles of international law: the rule of law and the right to fair and effective justice.

What action has Lifescape taken?

We strongly believe that the proposed amendment is incompatible with national, EU and international law. Working with our Romanian litigation partner Alianta Pentru Combaterea Abuzurilor (APCA), w we’ve called on the Romanian Parliament to reject the proposal and uphold Romania’s binding legal obligations.

We‘ve sent a detailed letter to the Romanian Parliament, outlining the multiple legal violations that would arise if the amendment were approved.

We’ve also shared our letter with relevant European institutions, including various Directorate-Generals of the European Commission, urging them to take action to prevent these potential breaches of EU and international law. Should the proposal be adopted, we are prepared to escalate the matter to the European Parliament and the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, and to pursue further legal and policy measures to ensure compliance.

Why does this matter?

Protecting biodiversity and maintaining access to justice are cornerstones of environmental governance. Weakening these safeguards would set a dangerous precedent: not only for Romania but for the whole of Europe.

Lifescape remains committed to upholding the rule of law and environmental justice by urging action against this proposal and raising awareness of it amongst stakeholders and the broader public.