Romania’s consolidated strategic partnership with Italy
A new mixed session of the Italian and Romanian governments was held in Rome
Bogdan Matei, 16.02.2024, 14:00
It’s hard to imagine any other country with which Romania has so many affinities and connections than Italy. The two countries have kindred, Romance languages, countless cultural exchanges, a common history of national unification at the end of the Great War, long-lasting dictatorships (a fascist one in Rome and a communist one in Bucharest), restored democracies which for decades have been eroded by unstable governments, political corruption and also share a passion for football – all that binds the two countries’ people, despite the geographical distance. At present, Romania and Italy are both NATO allies and partners at EU level, tied by a bilateral strategic partnership. Italy also hosts the largest Romanian community abroad – some 1 million people. Italy is Romania’s second-largest trade partner and the second export destination for Romanian products, as well as the second-largest supplier of goods to Romania. Last year, two-way trade stood at over 20 bln EUR, the largest volume in Italy’s history. Italy ranks 6th in terms of foreign investors in Romania. Romania and Italy want to boost their cooperation, according to a joint statement to develop the consolidated strategic partnership between the two states, signed in Rome by Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni and Marcel Ciolacu. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the joint government session also occasioned the signing of other memorandums for cooperation in such fields as defense, law enforcement, the judiciary, start-ups, nuclear energy, cyber-security, tourism, civil protection or the training of public workers.
“Italy is Romania’s second destination market and supplier of goods and the main investor in Romania in terms of the number of firms with Italian capital. Over 50,000 Italian companies operate in Romania, which signals the excellent level of our relations. Italy is also well represented in several strategic sectors, from energy, large infrastructure and agribusiness to banking and healthcare”. Italy’s prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointed out. In turn, Romania’s Prime Minister highlighted the good relations between the two states.
“I’m here to convey a strong message to Italian businesses: come and invest in Romania, it will be worth it. The Italian business sector in Romania contributes to the economic development of our country”.
We want to use Italy’s know-how and ensure a transfer of skills and expertise, so that the economic competitiveness of both countries should increase and we should develop as many joint initiatives as possible, the Romanian official said. (VP)
