A challenging year for Romanian democracy
2025 was a challenging year for Romanian democracy. It began in the aftermath of the annulment of the presidential elections in December 2024 and was marked by an intense electoral campaign that culminated, in May 2025, with the election of a pro-European, centrist president. The electoral process exposed deep divisions within Romanian society, including among the diaspora. Significant support in Western Europe went to a candidate whose political discourse repeatedly challenged the European Union and Romania’s support for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Questions surrounding the elections remained unresolved throughout the year. Public authorities failed to provide sufficient explanations about the circumstances that led to the annulment of the 2024 presidential elections, as well as the rapid rise of a pro-Russian candidate who reported no campaign spending yet secured first place in the first round. Major promised reforms in areas such as the judiciary, anti-corruption measures and civic oversight of the secret services were also delayed.
Romania and Moldova in a changing European security landscape
On the first day of 2025, Romania completed its accession to the Schengen Area with the lifting of land border controls. This milestone created new opportunities for mobility, trade and economic development, further strengthening Romania’s integration into the European project.
At the same time, Russia’s war against Ukraine remained the most significant security threat in the region. Several incidents involving Russian drones entering or crashing on Romanian territory highlighted the country’s exposure to the wider regional security environment.
In the Republic of Moldova, the 2025 parliamentary elections resulted in a clear victory for the pro-European governing party. We welcomed this outcome as an important reaffirmation of the country’s European path and continued to strengthen our engagement across the Eastern Partnership.
CRPE’s work: From civic engagement to education and rural development
For CRPE, 2025 was a year of growth, new partnerships and an expanding portfolio of projects, most of them supported through European funding. We continued our work across our core areas of expertise: civic engagement, good governance, agriculture and rural development, education and European affairs.
Among the year’s highlights were successful advocacy campaigns to protect the identity of Romania’s agricultural high schools and safeguard their teaching farms, as well as the organisation of the first joint Romania–Republic of Moldova agricultural education convention.
We also developed our first educational game, Ecoville, and collaborated with dozens of schools, youth organisations and civic groups monitoring green policies or implementing small-scale projects at local level. We published our fourth annual assessment of participatory budgeting and completed the first independent assessment of Romania’s National Action Plan for the Digital Decade.
Our work in the Republic of Moldova and across the Eastern Partnership also expanded. We supported dozens of small local civil society organisations in strengthening their capacities and continued our cooperation with partners in Georgia and Armenia.
Supporting democracy and Romania’s EU future
CRPE remained committed to advancing the Europeanisation of Romania and Republic of Moldova, supporting democratic values and promoting reform at a time when far-right and extremist narratives are gaining ground.
This report offers an overview of our work in 2025, bringing together our main activities, publications and achievements, alongside a summary of our financial resources and an introduction to the team behind them.
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