The inspection structures within the National Administration „Apele Romane” (Romanian Waters) (ANAR) have been deliberately obstructed, both centrally and locally, effectively stripping the institution of one of its key functions, namely that of preventing abuse and pollution through constant field presence, Environment, Waters and Forests Minister Diana Buzoianu said, adding that the ANAR must be „fundamentally reformed.”
Her statements follow the conclusion of a control she ordered at the ANAR.
According to a release of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, the Control Body has completed the review ordered by Diana Buzoianu at the ANAR, one of the main objectives being to assess how the institution fulfilled its duties related to inspection, control and human resource management.
The checks confirmed major organisational shortcomings, a consistent decline in control activities and a disproportionate concentration of staff in administrative structures at the expense of operational ones.
Data show a drop in the total number of inspections from 10,790 in 2022 to 9,270 in 2024, with only 3,081 carried out in the first half of 2025. In the same period, the share of warnings rose to over 63 percent of all sanctions, while the fine collection rate fell below 20 percent.
At the same time, the number of inspectors declined sharply: the National Water Inspection Service, responsible for coordinating inspections nationwide, recently had only two inspectors out of 11 approved positions.
„The conclusions of the report confirm the decision to change the institution’s leadership. It is clear that the inspection structures were deliberately obstructed, both centrally and locally, stripping the institution of one of its most important functions – that of preventing abuse and pollution through a constant field presence. It is also clear that none of this could have happened without local directors turning a blind eye or, worse, actively blocking real inspections,” Buzoianu added.
Following the report, the Ministry of Environment ordered immediate measures.
The Control Body’s analysis also revealed that the ANAR’s central structure grew by 17 percent over the past five years, exceeding the legal limit for management positions set by the Administrative Code.
While the central structure expanded, the inspection activity contracted and field teams remained understaffed and poorly coordinated.
In a post on her Facebook page, Diana Buzoianu pointed out that the vast majority of inspections over the past three years, regardless of the river basin administration involved, concluded with reports stating that everything was in order and the law was being observed. Of the few inspections that did result in sanctions, the overwhelming majority ended with warnings, with a steadily increasing share: 53.5 percent in 2022, 60 percent in 2023, 63.5 percent in 2024 and 63 percent in the first half of 2025. AGERPRES
