Ilie Bolojan and Friedrich Merz discuss defense cooperation in Berlin

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will be received this afternoon in Berlin by the head of the federal government, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, for discussions focused primarily on German investments in Romania and defense cooperation within the European SAFE program.

Germany is Europe's largest economy and Romania's main trading partner, accounting for over 20% of total Romanian exports.

Cooperation in the field of defense is the central topic of discussion between the two, in the context of Romania receiving the second largest funding through the European SAFE Program.

Romania and Germany will have several joint projects for the procurement of military equipment, and collaboration with German companies in the field, such as Rheinmetall, is an opportunity for technology transfer and for the development of the Romanian Army's production and equipment capabilities. The two countries will also sign a memorandum of cooperation in the field of defense.

In the morning, the prime minister met with the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, to whom he said that his visit was a sign of compassion for the suffering of the Jewish community during the Holocaust.

At the meeting with the Vice-President of the Federal Parliament, Andrea Lindholz, the Prime Minister stressed that he also envisages the development of bilateral parliamentary relations. The two discussed security, digitization, and the importance of the German minority in Romania and the Romanian minority in Germany.

The visit will end this evening, when the Prime Minister will meet with representatives of the Romanian community in Germany at the Romanian Embassy in Berlin.

Translated by: Radu Matei