Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Meleșcanu, hold consultations on Monday, September 10, with Head of Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, during his official visit to Bucharest.

Visit is part of steps to boost this year's bilateral dialogue and confirms the upward trend in diplomatic relations, including in the context of Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019.

Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the evolution of the economic relations between the two countries, marked by increase of bilateral trade exchanges and expansion of the activity of Swiss companies in Romania, as well as of Romanian entrepreneurs in Switzerland. Officials expressed desire to expand economic cooperation by identifying new opportunities from the perspective of encouraging mutual investment in the two countries.

In this context, Head of the Romanian Diplomacy expressed appreciation for the Swiss contribution to reduction of economic and social disparities within the European Union, a contribution that helped Romania benefit of 181 million Swiss francs. There were projects that have been co-financed in areas such as security, stability and support for reforms (border security, local and regional management capacity, modernization of the judiciary, etc.), environment and infrastructure, promotion of the private sector and SMEs, social development and dual education, according to a press release from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State of relations between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation has been discussed too. Romanian side underlined that it aims to ensure an efficient Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to be an impartial mediator and a consensus facilitator in fulfilling the tasks related to the EU rotating Presidency and to the advancement of the European agenda. Minister Teodor Meleșcanu has expressed support for finalizing negotiations on setting an institutional framework agreement between the European Union and Switzerland to provide both sides with a better basis for developing the many existing relationships.

Romanian and Swiss officials also addressed issues of regional interest, highlighting Romania's position as a strong supporter of a stable, democratic and prosperous EU neighborhood. Consultations highlighted the important role Romania attaches to the enlargement process in the Western Balkans, and to EU’s support for the Eastern Partnership. Discussions also occasioned an exchange of views on the international agenda, views that revealed to be similar.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei