A new legislation on bird protection

The European Commission has expressed its concern that hunting periods under the Romanian law coincide with periods of special protection. Romania faces severe penalties unless it takes immediate action.

Failure to comply might prompt the Commission to refer to the EU Court of Justice, the Commission announced in a press release. The European Commission has actually launched the second phase of infringement against Romania, which represents the final step before the European executive can lodge a complaint with the European Court of Justice.

Romania received a reasoned opinion from the Commission for its failure to comply with EU regulations on bird protection.

Hunting birds in Romania

The Commission claims that the hunting periods under the Romanian law fail to ensure the full protection regime as required by the directive.

The first stage of the infringement procedure is sending a letter of formal notification. The state in question subsequently has two months at its disposal to make the necessary amendments before the Commission can issue a reasoned opinion which explains why certain provisions are at variance with those stipulated at community level, what needs to be changed and how.

If the state that was notified complies with the community aquis in due time, the infringements procedure is halted. Unless the legislation is amended, the European Commission can take legal action against the respective state.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik stated that the Birds Directive “is a key element” of the EU nature protection legislation. “I therefore urge Romania to bring its legislation in line with EU regulations”, Potočnik added.

The Birds Directive is the EU’s oldest piece of nature protection legislation, which, most importantly, creates an overarching protection scheme for all wild bird species whose habitat is within the Union. The areas covered by the Directive are part of Nature 2000, the network of natural areas under EU Protection.

The Directive recognizes hunting activities as legitimate and provides a comprehensive scheme for the management of such practices in order to ensure their sustainability. The Directive clearly prohibits bird hunting during the periods of their greatest vulnerability, such as the migration back to the nesting grounds, reproduction and the raising of chicks.


Romania is home to a large variety of bird species, of which over 320 live in the Danube Delta alone.

(Radio România Internaţional, Serviciul în limba engleză).