France is Romania’s most important strategic partner in Europe and the first partner also in terms of decentralised co-operation, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday at a reception on France’s National Day hosted by the French Embassy in Bucharest, write Agerpres.
„Romania and France share a consistent history, with an essential vein: the flame of vibrant ideas of the French Revolution, which we celebrate today. Most of the Romanian elites were formed as students in Paris, and then they brought home the noble ideals of freedom and equality. Moreover, they actually turned them into facts, into institutional models that inspired the creation of the modern Romanian state. The strong linguistic and cultural proximity was also doubled by the common vision both at the European and international level. Today, our privileged relations have significantly intensified. France was one of the main supporters of our integration into the European Union and of our accession to NATO. Moreover, France has taken up the role of a framework nation in consolidating NATO’s posture on NATO’s eastern flank following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and Romania is one of the major security beneficiaries as a result of this approach. France is also the most important strategic partner in Europe, a partner that supports us in the process of joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and I particularly appreciate the constant and solid support that Romania has received in all these years,” said Ciolacu.
He also thanked France for its constant support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.
„I am sure that this support will continue in the coming months, crucial for us from this perspective,” added Ciolacu.
He highlighted the importance of economic co-operation between France and Romania.
„On the economic level – as I highlighted at the Franco-Romanian Business Forum a few days ago – France continues to be a key partner of Romania, with major investment in particularly relevant sectors. I welcome the increase in trade by 16 % in 2022 from the previous year and the presence in Romania of over 10,000 companies running on French capital. I hope we will also respond with the development of Romanian investment in France in the future. Having a strong commercial potential, this partnership has a significant impact and that is why we hope to intensify it,” Ciolacu also said.
He added that that France is Romania’s first partner also in terms of decentralised co-operation.
„There are twinning, associations, co-operation and partnership between different local and central public administrations, schools and universities and non-governmental organisations. And projects such as the collaboration on the laser sytem at Magurele and in the academic and research area show the deep dimension of our relations,” added the prime minister.
Finally, he thanked outgoing French ambassador in Bucharest Laurence Auer for her work .
„I want to thank you, Madam Ambassador, for exceptional collaboration! You have given a very special energy to the historical partnership between Romania and France; I hope we know how to keep this energy going in the future as well. I am glad to celebrate this anniversary together, when my warmest thoughts go to the French people. Vive la France!” concluded Ciolacu.
