Greenpeace Romania has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Culture, contesting the permits granted for the offshore Neptun Deep gas project, developed by OMV Petrom and Romgaz. The organization alleges that the Ministry did not follow proper legal procedures in declassifying an underwater archaeological site located within the project area.
According to Greenpeace Romania, the entire continental platform of the Black Sea has been designated as an underwater archaeological site of national importance. This area includes remains from various historical periods, such as the Roman, Hellenic, Roman-Byzantine and Greek eras.
The environmental group claims that the Neptun Deep project is receiving preferential treatment from Romanian institutions, which poses a threat to cultural heritage and undermines the rights of Romanians to a clean environment and health.
The disputed archaeological site is situated on the Black Sea continental shelf and is believed to contain artifacts of significant historical value. Greenpeace Romania argues that these artifacts could be damaged or destroyed by the gas project.
As part of the lawsuit, Greenpeace Romania is seeking a court order to suspend and annul the Ministry’s decision to remove the site’s historical monument status.
