Greenpeace Romania v. OMV Petrom and Romgaz

In July of 2024, Greenpeace Romania filed a complaint against the urban zoning plan connected to the Neptun Deep Gas Project, which is facilitated by OMV Petrom and Romgaz. Greenpeace Romania submitted the complaint before the Bucharest Court of First Instance, contending that no climate impact assessment had been conducted for the project’s onshore works, thus failing to comply with environmental impact assessment regulations. The court dismissed Greenpeace’s claim, declining to assess the legality of the environmental permit. Greenpeace Romania, noting that other Romanian courts have undertaken more extensive analyses of environmental permits, filed an appeal with the Bucharest Court of Appeal. The court issued a judgement early in 2025 rejecting the appeal, ordering Greenpeace to pay approximately 30,000 EUR each to OMV and Romgaz. Greenpeace retains the right to appeal further for a definitive ruling. In the meantime, Romgaz, which is 70% government-owned, began a lawsuit to dissolve Greenpeace Romania. The complaint alleges that Greenpeace Romania is engaged in fraudulent business practices.