Eugen Tomac unveils Romanian government program, prioritizing territorial reform

Designated Prime Minister Eugen Tomac has unveiled his government's proposed platform, a comprehensive plan structured across 21 chapters with a paramount focus on "administrative-territorial reform." Tomac declared this reform his "zero priority," deeming it a prerequisite for the effective functioning of all other governmental chapters.

The justice system is slated for significant short-term reforms within 12 to 18 months. These include accelerating the digitalization of judicial processes, integrating artificial intelligence, expanding electronic case files, and publishing monthly judicial performance reports. Legislative reforms aim to finalize legal packages, adjust magistracy promotion criteria to meritocracy, and grant whistleblower status to magistrates. Anti-corruption efforts will be strengthened through enhanced judicial police, increased staffing at key prosecutor's offices, clearer rules for investigating magistrates, and full implementation of European legislation. Measures to expedite legal processes include potentially eliminating the preliminary chamber and specializing commercial sections in appellate courts.

Long-term justice goals encompass reviving the "Justice Quarter" in Bucharest, completing the Buzău and Prahova penitentiaries funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and adopting a "Commercial Companies Code" to unify economic legislation.

The core of the administrative-territorial reform involves establishing an Interinstitutional Working Group within the first six months to conduct an audit of the current situation. This will include mapping over 3,000 local administrative units (UATs) based on population, fiscal capacity, area, and public service access. Scenarios for reorganization and consultations with local authorities and businesses across eight regions will follow. The reform aims for political consensus, transforming Romania's eight statistical regions into administrative regions with legal personality, fiscal authority, and expanded competencies, drawing inspiration from the Polish model. Population and administrative capacity thresholds for UATs will be set based on technical, not political, criteria.