: Minorities, particularly the Roma population , continue to face systemic discrimination and barriers to healthcare and housing. Women remain under-represented in politics, holding only roughly 9–11% of seats in parliament. 3. Rule of Law & Governance
: GDP growth dropped from 2.1% in 2023 to an estimated 1.4% in 2024 . The budget deficit reached 8.6% of GDP in 2024, leading to pressure from the European Commission for fiscal consolidation. romanian
: Productivity varies significantly; the Bucharest-Ilfov capital region operates at 162% of the EU average , while the Nord-Est region sits at only 51% . 2. Political & Social Landscape : Minorities, particularly the Roma population , continue