The Activity Report of the romanian foreign ministry

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi on Monday delivered an activity report, 6 months after taking over.

He said that the priority was Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.

The report shows a much-improved relation with the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet republic, with a majority Romanian speaking population), the Danube strategy close to completion as well as a 35% cut in expenses in the foreign ministry, that is 10% more than Prime Minister Emil Boc had asked for.

Romanian diplomats are currently negotiating several positions within the European Union’s foreign service, given that under the Lisbon Treaty, one third of the staff is recruited from national services of member states.

European Commission offices will turn into Union missions, Baconschi recalled, adding that Bucharest aims to attain positions such as mission chief, deputy mission chief, and director in the European Foreign Service which will function in Brussels.



Baconschi explained that while it is hard to see results in diplomacy after only 6 months, as regards the relation with the Republic of Moldova, two new consulates have already been created during this interval.

The foreign minister also said that Kishinew could host the Mihai Eminescu Cultural Institute as of September.

Ukrainian foreign minister Konstantin Hrishcenco will visit Romania in the fall. The two states still share an agenda of unsolved issues, including the situation of the Romanian minority in Ukraine and the Bastroe canal.


Teodor Baconschi said he recently received confirmation that Russian foreign minister Serghei Lavrov will also travel to Bucharest in a few months’ time.

Romania has promoted an intensified dialogue with Russia and the consolidation of pragmatic, balanced and predictable bilateral relations, in compliance with the facts of the 21st century and the interests and status of each state.


German chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Bucharest is also slated for this coming fall.

Baconschi said Romania intended to propose a strategic partnership with Germany. He also stated that the visit of Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to Romania this week proves that Bucharest has a balanced approached as regards the Middle East conflict.


Our country is trying to promote a balanced, non-biased attitude and find rapid and constructive solutions for the Israeli-Arab conflict. In another move, the Romanian foreign minister has announced that, along with finance minister Sebastian Vladescu, he is working on a government to reduce the cost of consular services for Romanian nationals living abroad.

(Radio România Internaţional, Serviciul în limba engleză).