Romania » International Relations

The Romania's Relations with International Community

Romania completes a Basic Treaty with Hungary in 1996, and in recent years, there have been hard work by both sides to improve relations. A negotiation has been reached on Hungary's notorious Status Law, which gives biased rights and human rights to Hungarians in neighbouring countries. Romania's cultural Hungarian alternative in Transylvania is thought to number 1.7m.

Relations with Russia have been decorated by established feeling of Russian power in the region. A mutual Basic Treaty was signed with Ukraine in 1997 though the two countries are still negotiating border-related issues. President Iliescu paid a three-day visit to Ukraine in September 2002. Romania devotes significant attention and resources to its relations with Moldova, which was part of Romania from 1918 until it was lost to the USSR in 1940. Relations with Bulgaria are healthy. A argument over the location of a planned second bridge over the Danube appears to have now been resolved. 

Trade and Investment with UK

Mutual trade with the UK carry on to grow and topped £800 million for the first time in 2001, despite a 10% fall in UK exports. Romanian exports in 2001 surged by one third for the second successive year. In 2002 there was a 26% increase in exports and a 16% increase in imports.

The UK is the fifth major foreign investor in Romania with close to US$600m (£415m) of direct investment. There are some 200 British companies with a presence including Shell, Unilever, GlaxoSmithkline, SAB, BAT, CGNU, Air BP, Allied Domecq, British Airways, Allied Deals, Balli, ICL, Linklaters and WS Atkins.