Romania
TERRI – Country profiles

Romania

Romania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (comune), towns (orase), cities (municipii) and counties (judete).

CEMR in Romania – Association of Romanian Communes (www.acor.ro) National Union of County Councils of Romania (www.uncjr.ro) Romanian Municipalities Association (www.amr.ro) 

Number of Sub-national governments
Number of Sub-national governments
2012
2016
2021
LOCAL
3,181
3,181
3,181
INTERMEDIATE
REGIONAL
41
41
41
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State Structure
State Structure
Unitary State
Capital city
Capital city
Bucharest
Currency
Currency
Romanian Leu (RON)
Population
Population
19,186,201 (4.3 % EU)
Vote
Vote
Non-compulsory
Geographical size
Geographical size
238,391 km2
2007
2007
EU Member State since
33
33
Seats in the European Parliament
15
15
Seats in the European Committee of the Regions

Local governments

2,861 rural municipalities (comune), 217 towns (orase) and 103 cities (municipii)

The local council (consiliul local) is the local authority's deliberative assembly. It is composed of councillors elected by voting for candidates via a party list system for a four-year term. The number of councillors is determined by order of the prefect based on the demographic size of the local authority. The local council's work revolves around economic, social and environmental development, public and private property and the management of public services.

The mayor (primarul) represents the local authority's executive body and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. He/she is responsible for the local budget and public services. The mayor also represents the local authority vis-à-vis other authorities, represents the national government within the municipality, town or city, and cooperates with the decentralised departments of national government ministries and specialised units present within its jurisdiction.

    • Housing
    • Local police
    • Urban planning
    • Waste management
    • Public health
    • Transport infrastructure and urban transport planning
    • Water supply and sewage system
    • District heating
    • Pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational and technical education
    • Local heritage administration
    • Administration of parks and open green public areas
State Structure
State Structure
Unitary State
Capital city
Capital city
Bucharest
Currency
Currency
Romanian Leu (RON)
Population
Population
19,186,201 (4.3 % EU)
Vote
Vote
Non-compulsory
Geographical size
Geographical size
238,391 km2
2007
2007
EU Member State since
33
33
Seats in the European Parliament
15
15
Seats in the European Committee of the Regions

Regional governments

41 counties (judete)

The county council (consiliul judetean) is composed of members elected by using a party list system for a four-year term. It monitors the implementation of provisions outlined in public administration legislation. The council is also responsible for the distribution of public funds, the county’s economic, social and environmental development and the management of county property and certain public services.

The president (presedinte) heads the county council and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. He/she is in charge of the legal representation of the council vis-à-vis third parties. The president can delegate responsibilities to the two vice-presidents, who are appointed by the members of the county council.

There are 42 prefects in total: one for each county and one for the capital city of Bucharest.

There is no hierarchy between local councils and county councils.

    • Regional development
    • Economic, environmental and social development
    • Management of public services
    • Urban planning and landscaping
    • Water supply
    • Sewerage
    • Public transport
    • Public health
    • Transport infrastructure
    • Social assistance
    • Education
    • Cooperation between local and national authorities