Romania Works Towards a Strategic Partnership with Spain

Romanian PM Victor Ponta, while on a visit to Spain, told the press and his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy that the two countries had many joint projects and wished to develop more partnerships.

The two heads of government talked about a strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as about the high number of Romanians residing in Spain. One important issue was the role of Spanish companies in the absorption of European funds in Romania, part of projects in areas such as infrastructure, telecommunications and energy. In a press conference occasioned by the visit, Radio Romania’s correspondent there asked Mariano Rajoy if he had asked Romania for incentives or guarantees for Spanish companies taking part in tenders in Romania, at which the Spanish prime minister replied:

Mariano Rajoy: “I did not ask for any, and I don’t have to ask for any guarantees from your government. I told the Prime Minister that our companies are competent in areas such as infrastructure, railways, motorways, energy and banking. Our companies want to be a part of things, to invest. They want to have legitimate earnings, but they also want to contribute to everyone’s welfare, especially Romanian citizens, in this particular case.”

Official data shows that Spain is home to around one million Romanian citizens. The Spanish labor market is about to be completely liberalized starting January 1st, 2014. Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that Spain supported Romanian migrants without discrimination:

Victor Ponta: “The fact that during a difficult period, such as a year and a half maybe, there has been no discrimination against Romanians, is important in my view. Spain is a model of integration and equal treatment. The fact that we have special programs, in education, for instance, such as Romanian language classes in Spanish schools, by means of joint government projects, is something to emphasize, it is something positive. It is up to the Romanian government to pour more money into these programs.”

Before his meeting with the Spanish king, Juan Carlos, the head of cabinet in Bucharest met with representatives of the Romanian community in Madrid. Ponta also met with the head of the regional executive in Madrid, Ignacio Gonzales, who thanked him for the contribution made by Romanians in the effort that Madrid made to fight the present economic crisis.