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The Venice Commission calls for meetings with Romanian institutions ahead of its opinion on the “Fritz” amendment

Raluca Ioana Draghici

4 November 2026, 16:37

Current Affairs

shutterstock.com: Dominic Fritz

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The Venice Commission requested support from the Romanian authorities to organize meetings before adopting the opinion on the “Fritz” amendment to the integrity law. The opinion will examine the compatibility of the transitional provisions of Law No. 180/2026 with European and international standards and is due to be adopted at the plenary session on 11-12 December 2026.

The Ministry of Justice announced on Wednesday that the request was sent to the Romanian authorities on 15 October 2026, through Romania’s Permanent Representation in Strasbourg. The Commission wishes to discuss matters with Parliament, separately with representatives of the majority and the opposition, as well as with the Presidential Administration, the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Ministry of Justice, the National Integrity Agency, the Permanent Electoral Authority and the People’s Advocate.

The European institution also requested the contact details of a person who could coordinate the practical aspects of the visit and the preparation of the opinion. The Ministry of Justice states that it has taken the necessary organizational steps and that its role is limited to facilitating the mission, without involvement in drafting the content of the opinion.

Context: the “Fritz amendment” triggered domestic and European reactions before the Venice Commission’s opinion

Before the Venice Commission’s initiative, the Integrity Law was adopted in Parliament with the amendment that would reportedly lead to the retroactive termination of the mandate of Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz, and the measure was upheld by the Constitutional Court. The opposition also challenged the manner in which the law was adopted, while USR announced that it would submit a new version of the law to “protect” Fritz.

At the European level, the EPP and Renew groups, through their leaders Manfred Weber and Valérie Hayer, called on the European Commission to block the release of €770 million in EU/RRP funds, citing concerns regarding the rule of law and the effects on electoral rights. At the same time, the European Commission requested clarifications from Romania regarding the Integrity Law and the amendment’s impact on locally elected officials, including on the issues of legal certainty and non-retroactivity.