Have you ever sent a complaint to a city hall, a notification to a public institution, or a proposal to a public authority and felt like it “gets lost along the way”? Romanian legislation on petitions clearly sets out what a petition is, who may file it, who must receive it, and—most importantly—how quickly you are entitled to receive a reply.
Below is a practical overview of what Government Ordinance No. 27/2002 (OG 27/2002) provides regarding the handling and resolution of petitions.
- What a “petition” means (and who may file one)
OG 27/2002 defines a petition as a request, complaint, notification, or proposal, submitted in writing or by email, which a citizen or a legally established organization may address to public authorities and institutions.
In practice, this includes:
- requests asking for a measure/clarification,
- complaints regarding the way you were treated or a public service,
- notifications regarding an unlawful situation/irregularity,
- proposals (e.g., improving a service or changing a procedure).
- Who you may address
The rules are not limited only to “institutions” in the narrow sense. Petitions may, in principle, be addressed to:
- central and local public authorities and institutions,
- decentralized public services,
- national companies and national corporations,
- commercial companies of county or local interest,
- autonomous public enterprises.
In other words, whenever an entity performs public functions and falls within the legal categories, there is a clear framework for receiving and handling petitions.
- Who is responsible within the institution (and what obligations they have)
The legislation provides that the heads of public authorities/institutions are directly responsible for:
- proper organization of the receipt and registration of petitions,
- resolving petitions,
- the legality of the solutions adopted,
- communicating the response within the statutory deadline.
In addition, for a lawful resolution, the institution must take steps to investigate and thoroughly analyze all issues raised. In short, a purely formal reply is not enough—the institution is required to treat the petition seriously, through verification and analysis.
- The public relations/registry department: the “command center” for petitions
OG 27/2002 requires a dedicated public relations unit, with clear duties:
- receiving and registering petitions,
- ensuring their resolution (by forwarding them to the competent departments),
- monitoring that a reply is drafted on time,
- sending the reply to the petitioner,
- classifying and archiving petitions.
An important point: the reply to the petitioner is sent only through this unit, to ensure a clear record and an official internal workflow.
- If you sent the petition to the “wrong institution”
This happens frequently: the petitioner does not know exactly which authority is competent and sends the matter to an institution that has no power to solve it.
In such cases, OG 27/2002 provides that the petition must not remain blocked: it must be forwarded within 5 days to the competent authority/institution, and the petitioner must be informed about this redirection.
- Response deadline: 30 days (regardless of the outcome)
The general rule is simple: the institution must communicate a reply to the petitioner within 30 days from registration, regardless of whether the outcome is favorable or unfavorable.
There is also an important detail when the petition has been redirected to the competent authority: in that case, the 30-day term starts running from the date the petition is registered with the competent institution (the one that has the legal power to resolve it).
Conclusion
OG 27/2002 clarifies the essentials: what a petition is, who may file it, who it may be addressed to, and what concrete obligations authorities have in handling it. In short, institutions must have a dedicated public relations unit, forward the petition to the competent department, monitor its resolution, and communicate a reply within the legal 30-day deadline. And if the petition was sent to the wrong institution, it must be redirected promptly, with notice to the petitioner.
If you have filed a petition and do not receive a reply on time, receive only a purely formal reply, or need help drafting the notification properly and effectively, it may be useful to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative law, in order to have a clear strategy and the next steps tailored to your situation.
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