However, Romania still stands by its solicitation forwarded to the European Court of Justice as regards cancelling the European Commission’s decision.
In December 2007, Romania asked the European Court of Justice to cancel the Commission’s decision reducing Romania’s pollutant emission ceiling, claiming that the Commission overstepped its boundaries and discriminates. This is Romania’s first legal action against a Commission decision.
Under the valid regulations, the Commission’s decision remains valid until the court rules on the matter.
European sources quoted by Reuters said that European Commission would allow newcomers Romania and Bulgaria, the poorest EU member states, to boost gas emissions by up to 20% until 2020, compared with 2005 level, according to a plan to be presented next week.
In October 2007, the European Commission slashed Romania’s proposed emissions cap by 20.7% to an average allowance of 75.9 million tons per year for the next five years. The commission also cut by 10% Romania’s emissions limit for 2007.
The Romanian businessmen’s representatives said back then that EC decision was a “discretionary” one, triggering EUR2 billion losses to thermal plants, and asked the government to take action.