The paper aims at presenting some aspects related to the Public Action on Navigation at the mouths of the Danube, concluded at Galati on November 2, 1865. For Romania, the act is of importance not only because it was signed in Galaţi by the representatives of the Danube European Commission, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, Italy, Prussia, Russia and Turkey, in order to improve the material conditions of navigation on the great river and to regulate the framework in which transport, commerce and administrative activities could take place.

At that time, Romania did not have a representative in the European Commission of the Danube, but the measures ordered by the Galaţi public act took advantage of it, leading to substantial progress in the country's economy and strengthening its position within the European framework of the time.

The main effects of the act consisted in the development of river traffic in the Lower Danube, thus in the development of commercial relations, which made the big companies of the time to open their agencies in Galati and the other ports of the Danube, and subsequently as a consequence, Western European states have set up consulates, thus strengthening the diplomatic relations of the young Romanian state with the powers that have a say in European politics.

The act consisted of three titles, each containing provisions relating to a particular sequence in the field of navigation. Thus, Title I contained provisions on the material conditions of navigation, Title II consisted of provisions on the administrative regime of navigation (General Regulation, Navigation Charges and Quarantines) and Title III regulated neutrality.

In our opinion, the Public Act on navigation at the mouths of the Danube has made progress in the regulation of maritime navigation on the Danube and an opportunity for Romania's economic development as well as its diplomatic relations.