Romania judicial system faces staff shortages and legislative debates

The Romanian judicial system is currently facing challenges regarding personnel and legislative changes. Former Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) chief Toni Greblă has warned of an acute shortage of court clerks, noting the high workload currently placed on existing staff.

Greblă also addressed labor market issues, suggesting that if the gross minimum wage is increased to 5,000 lei, it should be accompanied by a reduction in labor taxes to benefit both employees and employers. He emphasized the declining importance of social dialogue and collective bargaining between unions and employers in resolving workplace issues.

Separately, a legislative proposal initiated by USR lawmakers is heading to a final vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The project seeks to amend Law no. 361/2022 regarding the protection of whistleblowers in the public interest. The amendment aims to explicitly include judges and prosecutors as potential whistleblowers to ensure they fall under European protection. However, the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) has contested the necessity of this change, arguing that current laws already transpose EU Directive 2019/1937, which covers such protections.