A new criminal code entered into force in February 2014. The new code changed the list of protected characteristics in the general penalty-enhancement provision, making it an open-ended list.
A specialized bureau for protecting national cultural heritage was established within the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police. The special bureau is tasked with handling all activities related to addressing any manifestations of racism, xenophobia, extremism and other forms of intolerance, including hate crimes.
The Center for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism in Romania reported one arson attack, in which a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a former synagogue, and one incident of damage to property, in which stones thrown broke the windows of a synagogue.
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians reported an incident of graffiti on a church.
ACCEPT Association and ILGA-Europe reported a case of ongoing threats and harassment against a lesbian couple.
Jehovah's Witnesses – Romania reported three incidents of physical assault, six incidents of threats and one incident of damage to property.
World Without Nazism reported two cases of damage to property.
In his report following a country visit to Romania, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe urged the authorities to properly record hate crimes and ensure that law enforcement officials and legal professionals are adequately and systematically trained to recognise, investigate and sanction crimes committed with a racist motive, which primarily affect Roma communities.
ODIHR observes that Romania’s law-enforcement agencies have not recorded the bias motivations of hate crimes.