Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Romania: Enforcement of Court Decisions, European Enforcement Order, Asset Search and the Enforcement Procedure
- Talpes.law
- Jul 23
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
The enforcement of foreign court decisions in Romania can be challenging for international creditors. However, those familiar with the Brussels I Regulation (also Brussels I Regulation or EU Regulation No. 1215/2012) and the European Enforcement Order (EEO) can enforce court decisions effectively.
This guide examines the critical aspects of enforcing foreign judgments in Romania and outlines the required practical steps. These include translation of court documents, the absence of a central debtor register, and the importance of thorough asset search. In this way, creditors can maximize their chances of debt recovery as well as anticipate costs. It should also be noted that recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments require judicial jurisdiction and compliance with the legal provisions applicable to enforcement of decisions in civil and commercial matters.
Enforcing Foreign Court Judgments in Romania: The Legal Framework
Romania—as an EU Member State—applies the Brussels I Regulation. It governs recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments between EU Member States, pursuant to Art. 41(1)(b) and Art. 53 of the Brussels I Regulation.
A judgment that has become final and enforceable in another EU Member State may be enforced in Romania without separate recognition proceedings (Art. 39 of the Regulation).
This enables direct enforcement of the foreign judgment in Romania without exequatur, based on the principle of mutual trust between EU courts. A key instrument in this context is the European Enforcement Order (EEO), which facilitates a streamlined enforcement process within the EU.
What Is the European Enforcement Order (EEO)?
The EEO is a certificate for enforceable judgments. It is issued at the request of the creditor by the original court, using the form in Annex I of the Regulation. It confirms that the court decision meets the requirements for automatic enforcement.
This allows cross-border enforcement without recognition proceedings (exequatur). The EEO functions as an “enforcement passport” for judgments and is recognized directly in all EU Member States—including Romania.
Who Issues the EEO?
The original court that delivered the judgment issues the EEO upon request. The creditor submits it to the Romanian court, which recognizes the EEO as a fully equivalent Romanian title. Once the EEO is issued, no further judicial review is required (e.g. regarding compatibility with Romanian public order).
Translation and Service of the Court Decision in Romania
To enforce a foreign judgment in Romania, certain requirements must be observed:
Final or otherwise enforceable judgments must be submitted along with an enforceable copy of the judgment, in original form (bearing the court’s signature and seal);
The judgment and the European Enforcement Order must be translated into Romanian.
The translation must be performed by a sworn translator and must be notarized.
The European Enforcement Order contains, inter alia:
Information on the decision (parties, amount of debt, court);
Confirmation of enforceability (enforceability statement) in the State of origin;
Details of any procedural peculiarities.
An imprecise translation or lack of accompanying documentation may jeopardize enforcement in Romania. A specialized Romanian lawyer ensures correct submission.
Asset Search for Foreign Judgments: No Debtor Register in Romania
Romania does not have a central debtor register (unlike, for example, SCHUFA in Germany). This absence of a centralized system creates challenges for foreign creditors who must assess a debtor’s financial position before initiating enforcement measures. There is no straightforward way to verify whether a debtor is involved in insolvency proceedings or has outstanding debts. Therefore, comprehensive asset search by a Romanian attorney is essential.
Because there is no central debtor register, thorough asset search is a crucial step for creditors to locate assets that can be seized to satisfy debts. Asset search typically includes:
Land register search (Cartea Funciară): The creditor’s attorney can check whether the debtor holds real estate in Romania that could be seized or sold to recover debts.
Commercial register (Registrul Național al Comerțului, ONRC): Useful for identifying assets such as company shares or commercial property subject to liquidation.
National pledge and securities register (Registrul Național de Publicitate Mobiliară, RNPM): Existence of pledged movable assets or claims may indicate other creditors’ priority or the debtor’s financial weakness.
Insolvency bulletin (Buletinul Procedurilor de Insolvență, BPI): Insolvency proceedings may restrict a creditor’s ability to seize assets, as certain claims may have priority.
Romanian courts’ portal: Checking for other pending civil or commercial claims against the debtor.
Only professional asset investigation can timely secure enforceable assets.
Enforcement of a Foreign Judgment in Romania: Steps and Procedure
Once a foreign judgment has been recognized through the European Enforcement Order (EEO), enforcement in Romania may commence. The procedural steps are:
Application to the competent bailiff: Normally, any bailiff within the district of the Regional Court where the debtor resides or is domiciled is locally competent. The application for enforcement must include the foreign court decision and the European Enforcement Order.
Bailiff’s application to the enforcement court and approval of enforcement: The enforcement is granted by the local court at the debtor’s residence or domicile in an expedited procedure, usually within a few days of filing and without summons of the parties.
Execution measures under Romanian law: The creditor may request enforcement of the claim by any available execution measures, or instruct the bailiff in writing to prioritize certain enforcement measures (e.g. garnishment of wages instead of seizure of movable assets).
The EEO, together with a copy of the original decision, is treated as a Romanian judgment—it is final, enforceable, and legally recognized.
Potential enforcement measures include:
Garnishment of wages and bank accounts: Romanian bailiffs are authorized to seize debtor’s salary or freeze funds in bank accounts.
Forced auction of real estate, vehicles and business shares: Real estate, motor vehicles or business assets may be seized and sold at public auction to satisfy debts. Proceeds from assets such as rent income or intellectual property rights may also be seized.
Disposition of movable property and claims (e.g. rent income): Assets such as personal belongings, jewelry or equipment may be seized and sold to satisfy debts.
The bailiff is authorized by the court to act on the basis of the European Enforcement Order—swiftly and without additional recognition steps.
Costs of Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Romania: What Creditors Should Know
Enforcing foreign court decisions in Romania incurs various costs, depending on the scope of the procedure:
Court fees: In Romania, court fees for enforcement of foreign judgments are generally calculated based on the amount to be recovered. Fees are not fixed, but depend on the amount claimed and the specific enforcement measures. In the enforcement phase, fees are typically fixed and reduced. For example, the court fee for approval of enforcement is approx. €4.
Bailiff fees: Romanian bailiffs are responsible for enforcement measures such as seizure of assets, garnishment of wages, or freezing bank accounts. Bailiff fees are legally regulated and can range from several hundred to several thousand Romanian lei, depending on the amount claimed and type of measure.
Attorney’s fees: Legal fees in Romania for handling the enforcement procedure may vary significantly depending on case complexity, number of proceedings, and amount claimed.
Translation and notarization: Translation costs for foreign court documents (judgments, EEOs etc.) are a key component. Costs depend on length and complexity. Notary fees, like bailiff fees, are legally regulated and typically amount to a few dozen euros for document authentication.
Public register searches: To perform asset search, a Romanian lawyer must query multiple public registers, including the land registry (Cartea Funciară) or commercial register (ONRC). The fees for these queries are relatively low but may accumulate. Each query typically costs between €4 and €30, depending on the registry. These costs are essential to ensure comprehensive asset discovery.
A structured cost overview provides clarity and allows forward planning.
Conclusion: Foreign Court Decisions Can Be Successfully Enforced in Romania
With appropriate legal assistance, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Romania is rapid and legally secure. Required:
a legally binding or otherwise enforceable judgment;
a valid European Enforcement Order (EEO);
properly translated and served documents;
efficient asset search;
support from an experienced enforcement attorney in Romania.
Through timely asset research, structured application submission, and knowledgeable legal support, creditors maximize their chances of success.
Enforce your foreign court decision in Romania effectively—with professional legal support.
The effective enforcement of foreign judgments in Romania requires not only solid legal expertise but also in‑depth knowledge of local enforcement practice. Collaboration with a specialized Romanian law firm in international enforcement delivers decisive advantages:
Precise and discreet asset investigation to identify seizure‑capable assets;
Proper filing and professional management of the enforcement process;
Smooth liaison with Romanian enforcement authorities and courts;
Strategic advisory services in complex scenarios such as insolvency or creditor competition.
Local legal competence is indispensable in sophisticated cases. Our firm supports you throughout—from the European Enforcement Order to successful seizure of assets. Trust in legal excellence, procedural efficiency and complete transparency at every stage.
Author: Loránd Benő
For more details, visit us or book a phone or video call — see our contact information below. We speak English, German, Italian, Hungarian, and Romanian.
Talpeș - SCPA (Law Firm)
str. Avram Iancu, nr. 16, ap. 9
400089 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
tel:+40364133211
Comments