President Nicușor Dan promulgated the law by which Romania introduces clear sanctions for the corruption of foreign civil servants, an important condition for joining the OECD. The normative act tightens the penalties and expands the powers of the DNA in the investigation of these facts.
Nicușor Dan signs the law on sanctioning the corruption of foreign officials. Photo: Facebook
President Nicușor Dan announced on Thursday the promulgation of the law that punishes the corruption of foreign civil servants involved in international economic operations. The measure aligns Romanian legislation with the standards of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and represents a concrete step towards the strategic objective of Romania’s accession, scheduled for 2026.
“Today we promulgated the law that sanctions the corruption of foreign civil servants in international economic operations. It is a law that aligns us with OECD standards and brings us closer to a strategic objective: Romania’s accession to the OECD”declared the head of state.
The new law introduces tougher sanctions and expands the scope of investigated acts of corruption. Among the main provisions are:
- higher fines for natural persons, distinct from imprisonment, the value of a day-fine being set between 500 and 10,000 lei;
- confiscation of assets or sums of money obtained directly or indirectly from acts of corruption;
- sanctioning the corruption of a foreign public official even when he uses his office improperly;
- the mandatory competence of DNA prosecutors in the investigation of these cases.
Through this reform, Romania strengthens its position within international economic partnerships and sends a signal of transparency and responsibility to the business environment.
Accession to the OECD, expected for 2026, is seen by the authorities as a key moment for Romania’s economy. Membership will bring more substantial foreign investment, lower financing costs and a higher level of confidence in the local economic environment.
