According to media reports, investors in the large-scale cyanide gold-mining project at Verespatak in Romania are planning to bring a case against the Romanian government if the authorities do not re-launch the authorisation procedure, which has been in abeyance for 15 years.

The Canada-registered Gabriel Resources company is basing its claim for compensation on an international agreement aimed at protecting foreign investors, to which Romania is also a party.

—On the basis of the above I would like to ask the Commission if it is aware of such an agreement.

—Can a foreign investor successfully file a claim for compensation on the basis of this agreement if the authorities of the host country refuse to allow the project to go ahead for reasons connected with the environment, public health or other public interests?