Since joining the Council of Europe in 1993 and ratifying the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1998, Romania has implemented several significant decentralisation and local self-government reforms. These reforms have aimed to enhance local autonomy, improve administrative efficiency, and align local governance with European standards.

The Centre of Expertise has supported Romania through various projects to ensure that legislation aligns with Council of Europe standards. These initiatives have focused on strengthening local administrative capacities, promoting ethical governance, and fostering citizen participation in local decision-making processes. The most recent Congress monitoring report on Romania was adopted on 23 March 2023.

Since the beginning of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has played a crucial role as both a host and transit country for refugees, posing new challenges for local governments in migration management, social inclusion, and service provision.