CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN ROMANIA: PROGRESS TOWARD EU AND OECD STANDARDS (2015–2024)

This study systematically reviews the evolution of corporate-governance practices in Romania between 2015 and 2024, drawing on twenty-one peer-reviewed articles and key policy frameworks indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases.Using the PRISMA 2020 methodology, the paper synthesises empirical and institutional evidence to assess Romania's progress in aligning with the EU Directive 2014/95/EU on non-financial reporting and the OECD/G20 Principles of Corporate Governance (2023).The findings reveal a gradual shift from a compliance-oriented model toward strategic accountability and sustainability integration, with positive links between board independence, audit-committee activity, and corporate performance.Nevertheless, implementation remains uneven across sectors, constrained by bureaucratic rigidity, limited managerial autonomy, and incomplete digitalisation.Policy analysis indicates substantial legislative convergence with European standards, but weaker enforcement and state-owned enterprise oversight continue to hinder full institutional maturity.The study concludes that Romania's corporate-governance system exhibits regulatory advancement yet functional asymmetry.It highlights the need for coherent policy coordination, professionalised boards, and AI-enabled oversight tools to strengthen transparency, stakeholder trust, and sustainable competitiveness.