Romanian Constitutional Court revisits president's challenge to coal plant phase-out law

The Constitutional Court of Romania has reopened discussions on a petition submitted by President Nicușor Dan concerning recent amendments to the decarbonisation law. Dan asserts that the new provisions, which condition the shutdown of existing lignite and oil shale plants on the activation of alternative low-carbon sources, could postpone the elimination of high-emission facilities. He also highlights that the law introduces exemptions permitting the operation of new coal plants, subject to licensing and a Supreme Council of National Defence opinion.

The president warns that the ambiguous timetable may conflict with Romania's obligations under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and constitutional environmental protections. Parliament had previously sent the bill to the president for promulgation. The Court will now evaluate whether the changes align with constitutional requirements.