A legislative proposal aimed at supplementing Government Ordinance 26/2000 on Associations and Foundations, recently submitted for debate in the Senate, introduces a major digital transformation in the procedure for verifying and reserving names for entities in the non-profit sector: associations, foundations, and federations. The measure is part of Romania’s efforts to modernize public services, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure fair treatment between the economic and civic sectors.
If the project is adopted by Parliament and enters into force, a national electronic platform will be established under the administration of the Ministry of Justice. This platform will be publicly accessible online and free of charge through the Ministry’s website, becoming the single point of contact for:
Checking the availability of names.
Reserving names.
Issuing proof of name availability.
The project introduces the principle of exclusively digital interaction for applicants:
Mandatory Authentication: Individuals or representatives of legal entities will be required to authenticate in the platform.
Qualified Electronic Signature: Verification requests will be submitted through an electronic form signed with a qualified electronic signature.
Digital Documents: All supporting documents required for the procedure must be submitted exclusively in electronic format.
The platform will provide essential information to prevent future confusion and legal disputes. Beyond simply checking for identical names, the system will also indicate:
Risk of Confusion: Situations where the desired name presents a risk of confusion with the names of already registered legal entities.
Existing Trademarks: The existence of registered trademarks that could generate confusion. However, it is emphasized that trademark-related results will have only an informative character, and name registration through this platform will not replace the procedures of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM).
Validity of the Reservation and the Electronic Certificate:
Proof of Availability: Proof of name availability will be issued exclusively in electronic format and will be signed with the qualified electronic signature of the Ministry of Justice.
Reservation Period: The reservation of the name will be valid for a period of 90 days from the date the proof is issued.
Pentru a se putea aplica, această propunere trebuie să parcurgă întregul proces legislativ: adoptare în Parlament, promulgare prin decret prezidențial și publicare în Monitorul Oficial.