Romania
International cooperation
The Environmental Protection Strategy was updated in 2000 and contains short- medium- and long-term objectives for international cooperation in environment protection which can be summarized as follows:
Legal and policy framework, institutional arrangements and environmental regulations
The new legal system in Romania is based on the Constitution of 1991. Statutory control is provided by legal acts comprising: (i) primary legislation i.e. laws and so-called urgent ordinances (i.e. temporary laws passed by the Government for immediate implementation but not submitted to the debates and approval of Parliament; they are transformed later into normal laws after being submitted to and discussed in Parliament); and (ii) secondary legislation in the form of government decisions ministerial orders and instructions which are legally binding.
Environmental information and public participation in decision-making
As a country in transition Romania is facing deep structural economic social and institutional changes. The switch to a democratic public debate leads to high levels of uncertainty in nearly every field of social endeavour with a specific stress on material organization and economic problems. In this context it is hard to estimate objectively the relative importance of the environment for public opinion.
Preface
The Environmental Performance Review of Romania began with a preparatory mission in April 2000 during which the structure of the report was established. Thereafter the review team of international experts was constituted. It included experts from Bulgaria Denmark France Italy Netherlands Poland Slovakia Sweden Switzerland the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia together with experts from the secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Centre for Environment and Health of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Environment and agriculture
Historically Romania was the breadbasket of the Ottoman Empire and later of central Europe. Nowadays Romania has the potential for profitable competitive high-yield agricultural production and is considered as a typical agricultural country with 62% of its total surface devoted to agriculture which contributes some 15 to 20% to GNP (16.1% in 1999 Figure I.3).
Nature and biodiversity conservation
Spatial planning
In 1999 the human settlements network included 2951 territorial-administrative units: 263 urban and 2688 rural communes. The urban communes comprise the capital Bucharest (2 million inhabitants) 7 big cities (Timisoara Cluj-Napoca Iasi Brasov Craiova Galati and Constanta) with about 300000-400000 inhabitants 76 smaller cities with fewer than 300000 inhabitants and 179 towns with fewer than 100000 inhabitants. Urban communes are spread in a relatively balanced way throughout Romania influenced by historical geographical economic and social factors. The process of urbanization stimulated by the intensive industrial development of certain areas caused an increase in population an improvement in the socio-economic development of the towns as well as the development of their surrounding areas.
Human health and the environment
The population of Romania stood at about 22.5 million in 2000 3.2% less than 1990. This decrease is due to negative natural growth (since 1992) and emigration. The population is getting older with the proportion of people below 15 years of age decreasing (from 23.6% in 1990 to 18.7% in 1999) and of people 65 years of age or older increasing (from 10.4% to 13.0% respectively). This dynamic of ageing is faster in Romania than the average in other central and east European countries and is in fact fast approaching the EU age structure. However the proportion of young people in Romania is still 2% above and that of older people 3% below the EU average.
Abbreviations, symbols and measures
Selected economic and environmental data
Environment and transport
All modes of transport are used in Romania -- rail road water and air -- though their development trends have been strongly influenced by the economic transition since the early 1990s.
No. 43888. Israel and Romania
Exchange of notes constituting an agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Romania on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports the abolition of visa fees requirement for nationals of Romania and the abolition of visa requirements for nationals of the State of Israel. Bucharest 18 May 2005 and 25 May 2005
No. 42351. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Romania
Guarantee Agreement (Energy Community of South East Europe Program - Romania Component - LOTRU Project) between Romania and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (with General Conditions Applicable to Loan and Guarantee Agreements for Fixed-Spread Loans dated 1 September 1999 as amended through 1 May 2004). Bucharest 13 July 2005