French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday, at Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, that the 27 EU summit in Bratislava needs to find solutions for border security. The French head of state said he has talked with President Klaus Iohannis about the security issues.
François Hollande states that Schengen principles and border protection should lead to the protection of women and men within these borders. The French President said that in Bratislava the EU leaders need to find solutions for their protection and that he has discussed with President Klaus Iohannis about the European defence.
François Hollande also said that “together with Romania we would lay the foundations for common defence.”
President Hollande underlined the bilateral links between Romania and his country, stressing the level of the Romanian-French cooperation in the political and economic, cultural and defence fields. “Here in Romania, I feel like I’m at home,” the French head of state said.
Francois Hollande showed that, within the strategic partnership, the two countries want to have common policies, whereas in the economic field France is to contribute with solutions of new technologies, in the environment and transport fields.
French President thanked Romania for the solidarity shown after the terrorist attacks, but also for the support in Mali.
In turn, President Klaus Iohannis said that “Romania is supported by France” in the Schengen file. “We have discussed this issue with President Hollande and this step is part of a sustainable approach in the EU,” the Romanian head of state said.
President Iohannis said on the other hand that Bucharest will substantially and actively take part to the discussions in Bratislava for finding solutions that would lead to regaining the trust of the EU citizens, as Romania and France have common approaches.
Klaus Iohannis also said that the state visit of the French President is a “strong reassurance” for the bilateral relationship and that by the end of the talks one can talk about “a deepened, exceptional strategic partnership,” with tangible results through projects such as laser in Magurele.
“We share the same vision about the development and deepening of the strategic partnership. We discussed the need to support and deepen numerous successful aspects of sectoral cooperation, where I would mention the economic cooperation. We agreed to intensify our dialogue,” Iohannis said at Cotroceni Palace, during the press statement together with his French counterpart.
The relationship with France is a priority for Romania, President Klaus Iohannis also said.
After the official talks, the two heads of state went to the ELI-NP (Extreme Light Infrastructure — Nuclear Physics) Research Centre within the Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH) in southern Bucharest’s Magurele, to visit the Laser Control Room and to participate in the opening of the economic event “Future French-Romanian partnerships.”
The two heads of state visited the laser control room and then attended an economic forum.
Agreements have been signed in the field of education and research and discussions focused on cooperation opportunities in economy.
According to the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, the trade between the two countries doubled in the past 10 years and 2,400 French companies are operating in Romania, with direct investment of EUR 4 billion.
46% of the enterprises are operating in the industrial sector, the rest in finance and insurance, trade and agriculture.
Moreover, Francois Hollande will pay a visit, together with Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos, to the Airbus Romania helicopter plant for the official opening. The French President also has scheduled an official lunch with the Romanian Prime Minister.
Later in the day, Klaus Iohannis will extend a state dinner.
The French head of state arrived in Bucharest on Monday night, being welcomed at Henri Coanda Airport by a delegation including the Romanian Ambassador in France, Luca Niculescu.
Hollande is accompanied by 30 French businessmen.
Tuesday morning the French President has laid a wreath of flowers at the Unknown Soldier’s memorial in Carol Park in Bucharest.
The visit takes place three days ahead the EU summit in Bratislava, the first one after the UK’s Brexit vote.