Data journalism · official sources · non-partisan
Where public money is lost and what other countries did.
The Romanian state can work more efficiently. Here you will find the official data that shows where, comparisons with the rest of the European Union, and tools to estimate for yourself what could be gained.
What you can do on the site
- UnderstandAnalyses across 17 topics: where inefficiency shows up, how we compare with other EU countries and what solutions they tried.
- CalculateInteractive tools that estimate, with the assumptions in plain view, what could be saved.
- Explore proposalsWhat the IMF, the Fiscal Council or researchers have already proposed: attributed, sourced, with no recommendation from us.
- See it on the mapCounty-level data and verified reports in one place.
Four figures, sources in plain view
Each figure leads to its analysis, with the original document and the method.
- 30%of the VAT due was not collected in 2023, the largest gap in the EU (EU average: 9.5%)European Commission, VAT Gap Report 2025Read the analysis
- 55%of the population was connected in 2024 to sewerage with at least secondary treatment (EU average: 81%)Eurostat, sdg_06_20Read the analysis
- 24%of Romanians (aged 16–74) used a public authority's website or app in 2025 (EU average: 72%)Eurostat, e-government 2025Read the analysis
- 728hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, 3rd in the EU and 43% above the EU average (511)Eurostat, hlth_rs_bds1Read the analysis
Where to start
All topics- Fragmented territorial administration
How much extra a commune with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants costs
A third of Romania's communes have fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. The administrative cost per head is up to four times higher than in large localities.
6 min read - Public procurement and EU funds
From 2% to over 35%: how Romania made up for its delay on European funds, and at what price
At the end of 2024 the Fiscal Council raised the alarm about the risk of losing billions of euros. Two years later, the absorption pace has tripled, but the NRRP allocation has in the meantime been renegotiated downwards.
6 min read - State-owned companies
1,174 local state companies, with a profit a quarter of that of the 146 central ones
The official AMEPIP report for 2024 shows a performance chasm between central public enterprises and those under local authorities.
5 min read
17 topics, one question
How can the state provide the same services for less money? We start with five topics where official data allows solid comparisons with the rest of the EU.
- 01
Fragmented territorial administration
How much does it cost to run a small commune compared with a large one?
Analysis published - 02
Public procurement and EU funds
How competitive are public tenders, and how much European money do we actually use?
Analysis published - 04
Digitalisation and bureaucracy
How many trips to the counter could become a click?
Analysis published - 07
Tax collection
How much money owed to the state never reaches the budget?
Analysis published - 10
State-owned companies
Which companies does the state own, and how are they doing?
Analysis published - +12topics under researchFrom pensions to unused public property
Four rules we never break
- 1
Primary official sources
Budget execution reports, official statistics, audit reports, European Commission data. Every figure links to its source; the only exception, marked “Press”, is a fact whose official document is not public.
- 2
Institutions, not people
We analyse public structures, projects and spending. We do not accuse individuals.
- 3
Alternatives, not recommendations
We show what other countries did and what results they got. Choosing the solution remains a public decision.
- 4
Estimates with assumptions in plain view
Every calculation of potential savings shows its assumptions and limits, and is presented as a range.