PM Ciolos in France. Schengen space, economic relations on the agenda with French officials. President Hollande confirms visit to Romania this year

PM Dacian Ciolos was received on Wednesday in Paris by French President Francois Hollande. It is the second visit abroad paid by the Romanian premier after taking over the mandate.
In a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace, after the bilateral talks, French President Francois Hollande said he has discussed with the Romanian PM about common objectives in the fields of research, defence and education, as well as the situation in Ukraine and in Republic of Moldova, in the sense of support for European integration.
President Hollande has confirmed he accepted the invitation to pay a visit to Romania this year, following the invitation addressed by President Klaus Iohannis. “I confirm I will come to Romania this year,” the French head of state said at the end of the talks with PM Ciolos.

Hollande also said that the Schengen system most be improved, arguing that a potential decay would have extremely serious consequences for the EU. At the same time, the French president expressed his openness to Romania’s joining Schengen.
In his turn, PM Ciolos said Romania supports the projects concerning border control consolidation and hopes its efforts will be recognized along with the technical criteria already met, in order to join the Schengen space.
In his turn, PM Dacian Ciolos said ‘new bricks have been added’ on a solid platform of cooperation between France and Romania, as one of the issues on the agenda was economic cooperation.
The Romanian Premier added the two states have a common strategic partnership with good results in the field of machinery construction, energy and aeronautics. Ciolos said he has suggested the intensification of economic relationship, taking advantage that Romania has a stable economy, with a high economic growth and the government intends to ensure predictability for the business environment.
PM Ciolos said he has suggested a higher presence of French SME in the agrifood, energy fields and for the development of the laser in Magurele, adding that “there is an increased interest in France in this platform.”
“We have talked about the issue of migration and I have confirmed that Romania supports the projects regarding the border control consolidation. Romania has one of the longest external borders of the EU in its responsibility. We intend to do our job from this point of view and hope this contribution will be recognized, along with the technical criteria already met, in our attempt to join the Schengen space, at least in a first stage with the opening of air communications, of airports,” PM Ciolos said.
He added that Romania is interested in joining a sound Schengen space, stable, consolidated and credible, and that from this point of view he would support any initiative keeping that direction.
During the official visit, PM Dacian Ciolos was to meet also French PM Manuel Valls, the speakers of the two chambers of parliament, company representatives and Romanian Diaspora.
Analysts say France has in Romania a stable partner. Besides, Dacian Ciolos is known as an old friend of France, which supported him in 2009 for the European Commissioner for Agriculture office in the Jose Manuel Barroso team.
The main issues on the agenda were the bilateral relations, the finalizing of projects included in the roadmap of the strategic partnership, economic cooperation, migration, terrorism, energy security.
During the official visit, PM Ciolos is accompanied by Vice-PM and Economy Minister Costin Borc, who was to have talks with the French business environment representatives.
The official delegation also includes the head of the Premier’s chancellery Dragos Tudorache, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu and Culture Minister Vlad Alexandrescu.