Romania administrative reform targets 429 small localities

The governing program proposed by designated Prime Minister Luca Niculescu for the 2026–2028 period outlines a significant administrative reorganization in Romania. The plan targets 429 administrative-territorial units with populations of 1,500 residents or fewer, offering financial incentives for these small localities to voluntarily merge into single administrative units with shared town halls.

Under this proposal, multiple communes could form one unit to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Alternatively, communes could choose to associate for shared management of services such as accounting, urban planning, public procurement, legal services, and European fund attraction. The reform is intended to be voluntary and does not mandate a uniform reduction in staff; instead, personnel numbers would be determined by population and administrative volume.

At the central government level, the program proposes reunifying the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) with the Romanian Customs Authority to simplify institutional organization and reduce overlapping duties. The broader reform aims to reduce bureaucracy, digitalize services, and establish more predictable local budget financing through legally established formulas.