Romania Government introduces administrative and executive reforms

The Romanian government, led by Prime Minister Luca Niculescu, has adopted an emergency ordinance to restructure the central administration. Key changes include the creation of new delegated minister roles within the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, and the Ministry of Education and Research, specifically focusing on digitalization, artificial intelligence, and pre-university education.

Additionally, the government is launching a major administrative-territorial reform aimed at consolidating small localities. The plan targets 429 municipalities with populations under 1,500 residents for voluntary merger. To encourage this process before the 2028 local elections, the government intends to offer financial incentives, tax exemptions, and priority funding for infrastructure through national programs.

While some economists suggest the reform could reduce bureaucracy and improve service efficiency, officials and experts emphasize the need for careful implementation to ensure rural communities maintain adequate access to public services.