Local and Regional Governments in Europe

Romania
Romania is a unitary state
composed of municipalities (comune), towns (orase),
cities (municipii) and counties (judete).
State structure
unitary
Number of
Sub-national governments
2012 2016
LOCAL 3,181 3,181
REGIONAL 41 41
Capital city
Bucharest
Population
19,942,642 (3.9% EU)
Geographical size
238,391 km²
Currency
Romanian Leu (RON)
Vote
non-compulsory
EU Member State since
2007
32
Seats in the
14
Seats in the
European Parliament
European Committee
of the Regions
Local level 2,861 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 direct universal suffrage for a fouryear
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) is 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 visà-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.
Competences
• 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
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