Decision 46 COM 7A.2

Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Romania) (C 1552rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.56 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Welcomes the outcomes that the decision of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes of 8 March 2024 to dismiss Gabriel Resources’ arbitration claim against the Government of Romania regarding the annulment of mining permits in 2007 may have on the state of conservation of the property;
4. Notes that Gabriel Resources has the right to challenge the decision within 120 days, and requests the State Party to provide an update on this crucial mining issue as soon as it is able;
5. Also welcomes the activation of the Management Committee (corrective measure 3) and progress with all other corrective measures according to the approved timeframe, in particular:
   1. Revision of the Management Plan, including a reassessment of the Roman archaeological sites in order to establish conservation priorities,
   2. Development of the General Urban Plan (PUG), a key planning document necessary to prevent mining or any other activities that might impact negatively on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (corrective measure 2),
   3. Development of mitigation measures to address polluted underground mine water to be included in the PUG (corrective measure 5),
   4. Development of an inspection and maintenance regime for header ponds (corrective measure 6);
6. Encourages the State Party to include in the Management Plan, as part of its reassessment of the Roman archaeological sites, an archaeological research plan to guide future work on existing sites and on future survey work to clarify what further surface and underground mining, ore processing and settlement sites of the Roman period remain;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, including information on progress made in implementing corrective measures, and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
8. Decides to retain Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Romania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.