Romania - Joint Press Release - Fifteenth anniversary of the signature of the joint declaration on the strategic partnership between France and Romania (4 February 2023)

Our two countries today celebrate the 15th anniversary of the signature of the joint declaration on the implementation of a strategic partnership between France and Romania.

The declaration, signed in Bucharest on 4 February 2008 by the two countries’ presidents, provided a new, enhanced framework for cooperating and developing the deep and long-standing relations between our two countries, and for promoting common values and a common vision at the bilateral, European and international levels.

Fifteen years later, we welcome the excellent Franco-Romanian bilateral relationship, reaffirmed at the meeting between Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, during Mme Colonna’s visit to Bucharest on 27 January. This relationship is especially substantive not only in terms of political dialogue and economic and sectoral cooperation but also through the constant strengthening of our cooperation as partners within the European Union, NATO and other multilateral formats, including for the [Organisation internationale de la] Francophonie [OIF] – a global framework of cooperation and a genuine catalyst for our deep cultural bond and linguistic affinity, with Romania this year celebrating the 30th anniversary of its accession to the OIF.

The recent challenges we have faced at regional and global level, particularly those created by Russia’s unjustified and illegal aggression against Ukraine, have once again confirmed our two countries’ commitment to fundamental values and a shared European vision, while demonstrating our unflinching solidarity in the face of those who threaten those values.

Romania and France fully support a resilient and ambitious European Union capable of adapting to developments in the world, determined to reduce strategic dependency, acting in a coordinated and assertive manner in every sphere, including those of security and defence, though the implementation of the Strategic Compass, and based on unity, solidarity, cohesion and democracy. Our countries remain committed to an ambitious European project in order to respond robustly to current challenges for the benefit of our citizens.

France’s contribution to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, particularly by taking on the role of framework nation of the tactical group deployed in Romania; the close and substantial cooperation in support of Ukraine and Moldova; and France’s firm and active support for Romania’s membership of the Schengen Area are all undeniable examples of real friendship and a solid and lasting relationship between two genuine strategic partners.

Our close cooperation once again confirms the shared commitment to defending the whole Euro-Atlantic area and strengthening the international institutions to which the two States belong and which guarantee security, democracy and basic freedoms.

Our strategic partnership is reflected in ever more substantive bilateral cooperation: our universities, our cultural institutions, our businesses, our local authorities, and all the Romanian citizens living in France and French citizens living in Romania build the relations between our two countries on a daily basis.
On this anniversary, we express our commitment to further developing this strategic partnership and fully exploiting its potential in the bilateral framework – political, economic and sectoral – and as reliable partners at European and international level, in order to promote and uphold the values uniting us, for the full benefit of the two countries’ citizens.