Pîslaru: Despite appearing to support projects in NRRP, PSD is engaging in systematic sabotage

The interim Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragos Pîslaru, stated on Wednesday that the PSD is engaging in the "systematic sabotage" of projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), arguing that amendments made in Parliament to the bill on the decarbonization of the energy sector put Romania at risk of having payment requests No. 5 and No. 6 blocked.

"We are at a critical juncture where the true face of the PSD is being revealed. After five years of stalled reforms and delayed investments—and despite the apparent consensus on supporting the projects within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the stakes of which are clearly understood—we are witnessing a systematic sabotage of these initiatives. This sabotage has been carried out through various means: the suspension of government decisions linked to PNRR milestones; actions involving the Court of Appeal; opposition to the Salary Law; and the undermining of the Integrity Law via targeted amendments. Now, we are facing two new legislative acts. Regarding the biodiversity issue (the draft Biodiversity Strategy - Ed. note), we anticipate the sudden introduction of a series of amendments—unvetted and lacking any substantiation—designed to torpedo both the strategy and the associated milestone," stated Dragos Pîslaru on Wednesday at Parliament.

Referring to the decarbonization bill, the interim minister stated that the amendments adopted by the Chamber of Deputies do not produce the effects claimed by their proponents.

"And look, regarding the decarbonization vote: it effectively shows that a measure was passed which has no real impact and halts nothing. The notion of not shutting down power plants until replacements are in place would have implied that Parliament intended to halt ongoing processes. Yet, there was—and is—no intention on the part of the Government to close these plants. On the contrary, the Government—through Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, myself, and our colleagues at the Ministry of Energy—had notified the European Commission and prepared a study dating back to Mr. Burduja's tenure; that adequacy study, which the PSD is well aware of, was initiated back then. Essentially, the amendment adopted today merely undermines the 2022 legislation—specifically Ordinance 108/2022—which was the very basis for securing the funds for Payment Request No. 2, Milestone 114," Dragos Pîslaru stated on Wednesday at Parliament.

He warned that, under these circumstances, Romania faces a major risk regarding access to European funds from the NRRP.

"And the stakes now—and we are turning to the country's president, who holds the last line of defense to prevent this law from passing—are high," declared Pîslaru.

On Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies plenary adopted the bill on the decarbonization of the energy sector, incorporating a PSD amendment stipulating that the gradual decommissioning of lignite- and hard coal-fired electricity generation capacities may only take place after new, similar energy capacities have been built and commissioned.

There were 180 votes in favor, 9 against, and 27 abstentions, while 80 deputies did not vote.