Diagnosing priorities for stronger asset recovery in Romania

A new diagnostic by the Basel Institute on Governance’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) will help Romania target reforms and technical assistance to strengthen its ability to recover illicit assets.

The report, Enhancing and Modernising the Romanian Asset Recovery System, was presented at an event hosted by Romania’s National Agency for the Management of Seized Assets (ANABI) in Bucharest in September 2026. It provides an independent assessment of the system and recommendations to improve its effectiveness.

The event brought together senior Romanian officials and Swiss partners, reflecting high-level support for strengthening the asset recovery system. Participants included Switzerland’s Ambassador to Romania, Massimo Baggi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice Ioan Turc and ANABI Director General Elena Grăniceru, alongside representatives of national authorities, European and international partner institutions and civil society.

Understanding the barriers to asset recovery

To target support where it is most needed, ICAR experts examine how institutions recover assets in practice and what holds them back. The approach examines gaps against European and international standards alongside their underlying causes and the national context.

In Romania, this involved desk research, interviews with practitioners and a follow-up visit to validate the findings with national authorities. The assessment covers the full asset recovery process, from investigation and asset tracing to confiscation, management and disposal.

Romania has made significant progress, including establishing ANABI and developing the ROARMIS digital system for monitoring seized and confiscated assets.

Yet a gap remains between the value of confiscation orders and the amounts ultimately recovered. The report examines contributing factors across the system, including constraints on financial investigations, fragmented asset management responsibilities and limited integration of information systems.

Understanding these connections helps authorities and donors identify priorities and direct resources where they can make the greatest difference. It also supports reforms that strengthen cooperation between institutions and improve the system as a whole.

Priorities for Romania’s next phase of reform

The recommendations will inform Romania’s implementation of the new EU Directive on asset recovery and confiscation and its national asset recovery strategy for 2027–2031.

Elena Grăniceru, Director General of ANABI, stated:

Today’s event brought together, around the same table, all the institutions involved in the identification, seizure, confiscation, management and recovery of the proceeds of crime, alongside our Swiss, European and international partners. The assessment carried out by the experts of the Basel Institute on Governance provides us with an objective benchmark for strengthening Romania’s asset recovery system, and our partners’ commitment to continue supporting us confirms the strategic nature of this undertaking. ANABI will continue to work with all competent institutions to translate the recommendations into concrete measures.

ICAR Director Iker Lekuona confirmed our ongoing assistance:

It was a privilege to conduct this assessment, building on our first review of Romania’s asset recovery system in 2013. More than a decade on, it is really encouraging to see the progress Romania has made. Commissioning an independent assessment and making its findings public is a further demonstration of the Romanian authorities’ commitment to continuous improvement. We look forward to continuing to support them in building an increasingly effective, coordinated and sustainable asset recovery system.

How ICAR helps strengthen asset recovery systems

The Romanian diagnostic illustrates how ICAR combines legal and operational expertise with a detailed understanding of national institutions to tailor its support. ICAR provides similar hands-on technical assistance to more than 40 agencies across two dozen countries worldwide.

The diagnostic forms part of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The initiative also includes training and eLearning programmes for practitioners.