As of January 25, the Romanian Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration no longer uses seals. Attila Cseke, who is leading the ministry on behalf of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (known by its Hungarian acronym RMDSZ) has pinned down the new disposition in a decree, said the press office of RMDSZ.
According to the ministerial decree, the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration will no longer be using seals next to the signature on documents; private individuals and legal entities will also not have to use one when handling their affairs with the Ministry. The authenticity and legal force of the documents are now ensured simply by a digital or traditional signature. The regulation also applies to institutions subordinate to the Ministry.
According to the Administrative Code, as of January 1, 2020, seals should only be used on documents of legislation passed by state institutions listed in the Constitution, for instance, on the laws passed by parliament or on decisions adopted by local and county councils.
“As of today, the Romanian Ministry of Development, Administration and Public Works can only request a seal for the abovementioned types of documents. Public servants working in the ministry should not ask for stamps on simple applications or contracts. If they do, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against them in accordance with the law,” Cseke pointed out.
Seal usage in Central and Eastern Europe remains a general practice, especially in government and local administration, although most countries’ legal requirements don’t make them mandatory.
RMDSZ holds three ministerial positions in the Romanian government lead by National-Liberal (PNL) Prime Minister Florin Cîţu. Besides Attila Cseke, Barna Tánczos has been appointed as head of the Ministry of the Environment, Waters and Forests, and world champion cyclist Eduárd Novák leads the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Meanwhile, RMDSZ President Hunor Kelemen is one of the two deputy Prime Ministers.
Title image: Minister of Development, Public Works and Administration Attila Cseke (in the photo) says the authenticity of documents is ensured by traditional or digital signatures.
Source: napocalive.ro
