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AI regulation in Romania: laws & policy (2026)

AI in Romania: comprehensive law.

Romania is directly bound by the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), which has been entering into force in phases since August 2024 and constitutes the primary horizontal AI framework. Romania adopted a National AI Strategy 2024-2027 (HG 832/2024) and established the advisory Romanian Committee for Artificial Intelligence (CRIA). As of mid-2026, Romania has not formally designated its national competent authority under Article 70 of the AI Act despite the August 2025 deadline, and a domestic supplementary law (PL-x 184/2025) on responsible AI use remains under parliamentary consideration.

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Legal framework

EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, directly applicable); National AI Strategy 2024-2027 (Government Decision HG 832/2024); Romanian Committee for Artificial Intelligence (CRIA); Authority for the Digitalisation of Romania (ADR), proposed NCA

The EU AI Act in Romania

In Romania, artificial intelligence is governed by the EU AI Act, the first comprehensive AI law, which applies directly as an EU regulation.

Framework
the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689)
Approach
risk-based: unacceptable-risk AI is banned, high-risk AI faces strict duties, limited-risk AI has transparency rules
General-purpose AI
transparency duties for all GPAI models; systemic-risk models add safety and evaluation obligations
Timeline
phased: prohibitions from Feb 2025, GPAI rules from Aug 2025, most high-risk obligations from Aug 2026
Maximum fine
€35 million or 7% of global annual turnover for prohibited-AI breaches
Oversight
national market-surveillance authorities, coordinated by the EU AI Office

The AI Act is an EU regulation applied directly in Romania; national market-surveillance authorities handle enforcement.

Key points: artificial intelligence in Romania

  1. EU AI Act, phased applicability

    The EU AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024 and applies directly in Romania without transposition. Prohibited practices (Chapter II) became enforceable on 2 February 2025; GPAI model obligations from 2 August 2025; core high-risk AI obligations from 2 August 2026.

    eur-lex.europa.eu pwc.ro

  2. National AI Strategy 2024-2027

    Romania approved Government Decision HG 832/2024, its National AI Strategy for 2024-2027, in July 2024. It prioritises AI adoption in public administration (including ANAF tax authority), healthcare, and agriculture, and calls for a dedicated regulatory authority under ADR.

    dig.watch oecd.ai

  3. Advisory governance, CRIA

    The Romanian Committee for Artificial Intelligence (CRIA) was established under the Prime Minister as a national consultative body for AI policy, with technical secretariat support from the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation (MCID) and operational backing from ADR.

    eurocloud.org adr.gov.ro

  4. Missing national competent authority designation

    Article 70 of the EU AI Act required Member States to designate a national competent authority by 2 August 2025. As of early 2026, Romania had not formally completed this designation, making it non-compliant with the deadline; the proposed authority would sit within ADR as both notifying and market surveillance entity.

    ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu artificialintelligenceact.eu eurocloud.org

  5. Draft national AI law, PL-x 184/2025

    A draft law on the responsible use of AI was registered in the Romanian Senate on 31 March 2025 (PL-x 184/2025). It was rejected by the Senate and referred to the Chamber of Deputies (the decisional chamber); as of early 2026 it remained under parliamentary review and had not been enacted.

    cms-lawnow.com mararu.com

  6. OECD assessment of implementation progress

    An October 2025 OECD country note on Romania's progress under the EU Coordinated Plan on AI found implementation fragmentary, citing the absence of a formally designated NCA and slow uptake of the AI Strategy's action plan measures as key gaps.

    oecd.org oecd.org

The EU AI Act in Romania: FAQ

Does the EU AI Act apply in Romania?

Yes. As an EU member, Romania is covered by the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), which applies directly.

What does the EU AI Act regulate in Romania?

It uses a risk-based approach: unacceptable-risk AI is banned, high-risk AI faces strict obligations, and general-purpose AI models carry transparency duties.

When does the EU AI Act take effect in Romania?

It is phased: prohibitions applied from February 2025, general-purpose-AI rules from August 2025, and most high-risk obligations from August 2026.

What are the penalties under the EU AI Act in Romania?

Up to €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover for breaching the prohibited-AI rules, with lower tiers for other breaches.

Sources

  1. eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689
  2. dig.watch/resource/romanias-national-artificial-intelligence-strategy-for-2024-
  3. oecd.ai/en/dashboards/policy-initiatives/romanias-national-ai-strategy-3795
  4. cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2025/04/romanian-senate-reviews-draft-law-regulating-ai
  5. eurocloud.org/news/article/romania-and-the-eu-ai-act-ready-or-just-warming-up/
  6. artificialintelligenceact.eu/national-implementation-plans/
  7. ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-70
  8. adr.gov.ro/en
  9. mararu.com/articles/eu-ai-act-implementation-update-romania-business-guide
  10. oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/10/progress-in-implemen
  11. pwc.ro/en/services/assurance/risk-assurance/cyber-security--data-privacy-and
  12. oecd.org/en/publications/progress-in-implementing-the-european-union-coordinat

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026