Romania enacts public administration reform to reduce political influence

Romania has enacted Law no. 165/2026 to amend the Administrative Code, aiming to reform the public administration system by reducing political influence and nepotism. Developed as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) with input from Transparency International Romania, the reform introduces stricter criteria for competence and integrity.

The new legal framework establishes merit-based career paths, introduces mandates for leadership positions, and implements rotation for sensitive posts. It seeks to distinguish professional competence from mere tenure by introducing new professional levels that require verification of specialized knowledge and specific job competencies.