Romanian president again challenges law allowing hydropower projects in protected areas

13 August 2026 Romanian president Nicușor Dan has asked Parliament to reconsider legislation allowing the construction and completion of hydropower projects in protected areas, reopening a dispute over the balance between energy security and environmental protection. Dan submitted the request to Parliament on August 12, according to Economedia, after the Constitutional Court rejected his objections to the legislation in June. "Beyond the limits of constitutional control, we consider that the current assessment of the necessity, opportunity and efficiency of the adopted legislative solutions is required, including from the perspective of developments that have occurred since the initiation of the legislative proposal," Dan said in the note accompanying his request. The president had previou