Government of Romania : Statements by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos following the meeting with the President of the French Republic, Francois(...)

Dacian Ciolos: Thank you, Mr. President, first of all for the opportunity to meet, ever since the beginning of the mandate of this Cabinet. We met as old friends as I consider Romania and France. I added new bricks to a platform, a very solid and consistent cooperation platform between Romania and France over these last decades, cooperation regarding both local development, relations between our communities, and a very close political and economic cooperation, we are connected through a strategic partnership that already produces very good results, in Romania, there is a consistent presence of some large French industrial groups in the area of automotive industry, aeronautics, public services, water management, energy, and I suggested that on this solid foundation and the mutual knowledge of economic environment, we bolster our economic and trade relations, capitalizing on the fact that Romania proves to be a stable economy. The Government that I am leading comes up with an economic programme that wants to secure predictability for the economic environment and to capitalize on the growth potential of the Romanian economy.

We are one of the European countries with the biggest economic growth, on which it can be built.

And beyond these large French groups which are already present and which can develop their businesses, I suggested an intense presence of the SMEs, as there is a potential in areas such as: agro-food sector, energy sector, but also in key areas, I recalled here the development potential represented by the development of Magurele laser, with all platform to capitalize it. I understood that there is a growing interest of the French business and applied research environment to get involved in the development of the Magurele laser and this platform, and I hope that over the next period, we can organize even a visit for French partners interested.

We also discussed about our cooperation at European level on the main files that are on our agenda. I evoked the issue of migration, and confirmed that Romania supports projects to strengthen border control. Romania itself has one of the largest EU's external frontiers in its responsibility. We confirmed that we intend to continue to do our job in this regard and we hope that this contribution Romania has made in border control to be recognized, along with the criteria that have been met by Romania to join the Schengen area, at least in a first stage, with opening air communications, airports, surely confirming that we are interested to join a Schengen area that is solid, consolidated and credible and, from this point of view, Romania will support any initiative that goes in this direction.

We also discussed about the international situation, the Neighborhood Policy, especially in the Eastern area. We exchanged views and information related to the way things are developing in Ukraine, expressing our hope that the steps taken by the French - German partners- and here I know that President Francois Hollande got involved and still involves very intensely - to be successful in the general interest of the EU, and to stabilize the situation in this area, which for us, for Romania, is an important one.

We discussed, of course, in detail, about the situation in the Republic of Moldova, we explained the reasons for which Romania intends to support any approach relative to reform, fight against corruption, economic development in Moldova, attached to European values, ​​and here I hope, that following this discussion, we can cooperate not only in the friendship group for the Republic of Moldova, where France, along with Romania and the other Member States, is very active, but also regarding projects to support economic development and reform programs in the Republic of Moldova.

In conclusion, I can say it was a very substantial discussion. I reiterated to Mr. President the invitation addressed by President Klaus Iohannis, to visit Romania, and I hope we can welcome Mr. President Hollande this year in Romania and, just as he said, to prepare together the centenary in 2018 of the Great Union of Romania, to which, historically, France made a contribution and I hope we can celebrate together with the new projects that we have, this time, as two EU Member States. Thank you.