PSD is preparing administrative reform / Communes with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants could be merged

PSD proposes six criteria for evaluating localities במסגרת the administrative-territorial reform, a process that is expected to be finalized in March. Social Democrat MEP Dragoș Benea, coordinator of the working group, says that the current mayors will complete their terms in 2028 and that the reorganization will not lead to the disappearance of localities.

The announced criteria are population and demographic trends, economic sustainability, administrative capacity, connectivity, access to basic services, and public infrastructure. Based on these, a “sustainability matrix” will be created, with a scoring algorithm indicating the administrative-territorial units that can function in their current form and those that would require reorganization or merger.

A committee coordinated by the prefect would be established in each county, with representatives of the County Council, the cadastre authority, statistics, education, the Police, and agriculture. The proposals would be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Development.

PSD maintains that the reform is necessary ahead of the 2028 elections and in view of European funds for the 2028–2034 period. Romania has more than 450 administrative-territorial units with fewer than 1,500 inhabitants, while 55% of cities no longer meet the legal threshold of 10,000 inhabitants.