The Hungarian-Romanian environmental protection committee was convened for the eighth time. The meeting took place in Nagyvárad where Sándor Fazekas from the Ministry of Rural Development and László Borbély Minster of Environmental Protection and Forestry signed a decree regarding to the committee's activities during the previous year and for next year.

The latest result of the cooperation on environmental protection and conservation is that the Romanian government has consented to the establishment of the Cséfa National Park neighbouring the Kőrös-Maros National Park, and as a result a nature conservation area totalling 13000 hectares was founded along the border between the two countries.

The joint committee's permanent agenda includes the issue of the proposed opening of a gold mine in Verespatak. The Hungarian government is requesting continuous briefings on proceedings regarding this project, which were renewed in 2010. On February 9, the Romanian party sent Hungary the 1600 pages of documentation that the investor had submitted to the authorities. Hungary’s position is unchanged: it has continued reservations regarding about the project. The Hungarian-Romanian committee is one of the most important platforms of cooperation regarding Hungary’s relationship with Romania. The committee, founded in 2000 following an intergovernmental agreement, continues to put forward and implement current and important goals. Its important task is the prevention of contamination across the border, as are discussions on the implementation of EU legislation and the realisation of joint programs.

One of the important priorities of the Hungarian presidency of the EU is the approval of the European Danube Strategy. One of the important responsibilities of the committee’s ad hoc workgroup is the cohesion of the upcoming dossier on environmental risk management (priority area 5). Following the committee’s session, Mr. Sándor Fazekas went to see the Kőrös Promenade, which has been recently completed and which, according to the plans, will be continued all the way to the centre of Nagyvárad. This investment unites the aspects of water protection, conservation and aesthetics in a complex manner, and contributes to making people’s leisure time more enjoyable.

(Ministry of Rural Development, Press Office)