2013-09-05

Hungarian EPP MEPS Erik Bánki, László Tőkés and Csaba Sógor addressed European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik in a letter, asking him to take decisive action in the matter of the Romanian draft law regarding the Roşia Montanã mining project and demanding an EU level ban on cyanide mining. 

The EPP politicians reminded the commissioner that at the initiative of László Tőkés and János Áder, on the 5th of May 2010 the European Parliament issued a decision, asking the European Commission to ban cyanide mining technologies across the union. The authors of the letter also voiced their deep disappointment regarding the fact that the Commission took no steps, until this day, toward enforcing this decision, and demanded to know the reasons for this shortcoming.

The decision also stated that the member states should not authorise mining projects based on cyanide technologies that are considered extremely harmful for human health or the environment until the ban comes into force. The MEPS drew the attention of the commissioner to the draft law adopted last week by the Romanian government, which puts the issue of opening the Roşia Montanã mining project on the Romanian parliament’s agenda. The Hungarian politicians expressed their concern regarding the environmental aspects of the project. Should it be approved and opened, the mining endeavour could lead to another cyanide pollution catastrophe, similar to the one polluting the waters of the Tisza. 250 million tons of cyanide could be released into the waters, putting the health of those living in the area at risk and endangering the central European water reserves.    

The MEPs firmly recommended the European Environment Commissioner to take decisive action and make sure Romania abides the decision of the European Parliament and doesn’t give a green light to the Roşia Montanã mining investment.