Issue of coal in EU highlighted by Romania’s miners protest

More than 100 miners in the Jiu Valley in Romania had barricaded themselves underground to protest unpaid wages. They have come out since but the issue of coal and how profitable the industry is under EU’s Green Deal remains a very flammable out, writes Cristian Gherasim.

The bone of contention leading to the miner’s strike rests with unpaid wages. People demand the wages they were due and also made it clear that miner’s wages are already very small. A miner with 3 years of experience earns about 400 per month, and many are the sole breadwinners of the family. The government promised all delayed payments to be made.

This protest sparked huge debate at national level, with some former miner labor leaders threatening to come to Bucharest. The transition to a green economy is coming about with problems said PM Florin Citu.

Romania has had a history of very violent miners’ protests back in the 90s when miners played a visible role in Romanian politics, and their protests reflected inter-political and societal struggles in post-Revolution Romania toppling governments of the time.

In 1990, just a few months after Ceaușescu had been toppled and killed, the Jiu Valley miners played a politica role when then president Iliescu brought thousands of miners to Bucharest to put down a peaceful demonstration against his government. A year later, in September 1991, miners were back, and forcing the resignation of Petre Roman, Romania’s prime minister, who had fallen out with Iliescu.

The coal miners’ issue in Romania highlights a real national and European issue. Many country face issues making the transition to green energy with politicians from both sides of the aisle making the case for and against the move.

Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans stepped in and said that there's no future for coal in EUrope and Romania needs to leave coal behind. Timmermans heads the realization and implementation of the Green Deal and the directives that will ensure climate neutrality by 2050 in the EU.

On the opposite side of the political spectrum opposing the Green Deal, Cristian Terhes, Member of the European Parliament and representing the European Conservatives and Reformists group took a different stance: “I don’t see this as being fair. While Romania is asked to close down its mines, Germany is opening up a new coal-fired power station”, Mr. Terhes said. He said that the government’s push towards the Green Deal with drive up the energy price for all Romanians.

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