Preliminary assessment of the third payment request of Romania (2024)

Outcome Objective 5.3., page 72). Additionally, the strategy includes implementing a financial compensation system for imposed restrictions and disadvantages due to biodiversity conservation regimes from 2025 (table 3, Outcome Objective 5.4., page 71), and establishing a funding system to stimulate the integration of biodiversity conservation in forest management from 2025.

Commission Preliminary Assessment: Satisfactorily fulfilled

                   Related Measure: Reform of forest management and governance systems
Number: 23         through the development of a new National Forest Strategy and subsequent
                   legislation
Name of the Milestone: Entry into force of amended Ministerial Ordinances laying down binding
rules for afforestation and reforestation foreseen in the National Forestry Strategy 2020-2030
Qualitative Indicator: Provision in the Ministerial Ordinances indicating the
                                                                                   Time: Q3 2022
entry into force of the amendments
Context:

The objective of reform C2.R1 is to ensure a clear and robust strategic and regulatory framework for the implementation of sustainable forest policies that support climate change mitigation and adaptation. Milestone #23 concerns the entry into force of amended Ministerial Ordinances laying down the binding rules for afforestation and reforestation envisaged by the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030 adopted under milestone #22 (see fiche above).

Milestone #23 is the second milestone of the reform, and it follows the completion of milestone #22 (see fiche above) related to the adoption of the National Forest Strategy 2020-2030. It will be followed by milestone #24, related to the entry into force of legal acts amending or supplementing the legislation on forests. The reform has a final expected date for implementation of 30 September 2023. The reform is complemented by investments C2.I1 and C2.I2 with final expected dates for implementation of 30 September 2024.

Evidence provided:

The following evidence was provided:

  i.    Summary document duly justifying how the milestone (including the relevant elements of
        the milestone, as listed in the description of milestone and of the corresponding measure in
        the Council Implementing Decision annex) was satisfactorily fulfilled;
  ii.   Copy of Ministerial Order of the Minister for Water and Forestry No. 1945 of 26 October
        2021 amending and supplementing the technical rules for the preparation of forest
        management plans, amendment of their provisions and change of land use category
        forestry, approved by Order No. 766/2018 (hereinafter referred to as “Ministerial Order No.
        1945/2021”), published in the Official Journal No. 1043 of 1 November 2021, entered into
        force on the same date. ;
 iii.   Copy of Ministerial Order of the Minister for Water and Forestry No. 2533 of
        28 September 2022 accepting the Technical Rules on the compositions, schemes and
        technologies offering forest regeneration and the afforestation of Degraded lands and of

the Guide on the mergers, schemes and technologies offering forest regeneration and the fulfilment of Degraded lands (hereinafter referred to as “Ministerial Order No. 2533/2022”), published in the Official Journal No. 1000 of 14 October 2022;