Parties have spent half of public subsidies on press and promotion
Political parties spent over 22.2 million euros in 2025 on press and advertising, approximately half of the total subsidies received from the state budget.
The new Audiovisual Content Regulation Code has led to better marking of paid materials and reduced some practices on major television channels.
However, paid political statements, interviews, and debates continue to be published as journalistic products without immediately making it clear to the audience that it is promotional content.
The Commission notes issues even with the money granted to the press by public institutions: contracts are sometimes awarded without tender and there is no general mechanism for overseeing how funds are distributed.
Editorial independence of TVR and Radio Romania: only limited progress
The government has set up a working group to analyze the modification of the legislative framework to strengthen the independence of public press institutions and align it with the European Regulation on media freedom.
However, there is still no draft law.
Journalist associations have criticized the appointment of the government's spokesperson to the Board of Directors of the Romanian Broadcasting Corporation, considering the position incompatible with the institution's independence and creating risks of political influence.
In these conditions, the Commission only speaks of "limited progress" in strengthening editorial independence and governance of public media services.
Access to public information remains difficult
Authorities have not made progress regarding the new Administrative Procedure Code, and journalists and civic organizations continue to report refusals or delays in providing information of public interest.
Challenging a refusal in court takes a long time and discourages those requesting the information. Moreover, the sanctions are mainly modest fines, without necessarily obliging the institution to provide the requested information.
Exceptions regarding classified information or trade secrets are, according to journalists and civic organizations consulted by the Commission, excessively used.
Over 40 lawsuits with intimidation characteristics
The Commission finds that strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as SLAPP, continue to be used against journalists, media organizations, and civic activists.
Over 40 civil actions with SLAPP characteristics and eight criminal cases have been documented. Some compensation claims reach very high values. The report mentions a claim of 3.465 million euros filed against the Context publication after the publication of an investigation.
The bill for transposing the anti-SLAPP European Directive was approved by the Government in February 2026, adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in April, and sent to the Senate. The text covers both cross-border litigation and domestic cases.
Legislation: fewer emergency ordinances, but rules continue to change too often
The number of emergency ordinances decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, and authorities have taken steps to improve public consultations.
However, the Commission emphasizes that emergency ordinances continue to be frequently used, and consultations are often formal or insufficient.
For companies and civil society organizations, legislative unpredictability caused by frequent changes in laws and the large number of projects remaining in Parliament are some of the main issues.
The Open Governance Strategy for the period 2025–2030 has not yet been effectively implemented, and civil society organizations signal increasing restrictions on their activities.
What does the European Commission recommend to Romania
1. Evaluation and, where necessary, amendment of the Judiciary Laws
Romania must resume the evaluation of how the Judiciary Laws function, in close consultation with magistrates, professional organizations, civil society, and other relevant institutions.
The evaluation should lead to concrete measures to improve the efficiency, independence, and governance of the judicial system.
2. Stronger guarantees for the independence of high-ranking prosecutors
The Commission calls for the resumption and acceleration of legislative work on the appointment and dismissal procedures of prosecutors holding leadership positions.
At the same time, Romania must clarify the organization, subordination, and functioning of the judicial police so that criminal investigation activities benefit from real guarantees of independence.
3. Efficient investigations for crimes and corruption in the judiciary system
Authorities must take measures for crimes committed within the judicial system, including acts of corruption, to be effectively investigated and prosecuted.
The recommendation shows that simply reducing the number of pending cases is not enough without a functional and credible investigation mechanism.
4. Finalization of the law regarding asset declarations
Romania must complete the legislative process initiated at the proposal of the National Integrity Agency, so that the asset declaration system remains efficient and allows for real verification of the assets and interests of individuals holding public office.
The Commission acknowledges that some steps have been taken, but considers that the recommendation has not yet been fulfilled.
5. Fewer emergency ordinances and real public consultations
The government must reduce the use of emergency ordinances and organize effective consultations before adopting laws.
This involves timely publication of projects, providing a sufficient period for comments, and explaining how the received proposals have been accepted or rejected.
6. Accreditation of national institutions for human rights
Romania must complete the accreditation process of national institutions for the protection of human rights and address compatibility issues with the UN Paris Principles.
These principles require national institutions to be independent, pluralistic, accessible, and have a clear mandate and sufficient resources.