Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu discussed with officials from the German state of Bavaria the introduction of Romanian-language classes in local schools for children from the Romanian community, as well as possibilities to expand the free courses organized by the Romanian Foreign Ministry together with the Romanian Language Institute starting with this school year.

According to a release issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oana Toiu, who is attending the Munich Security Conference, had a bilateral meeting with Eric Beisswenger, Bavarian State Minister for European and International Affairs, and also met with representatives of the Romanian community at the Consulate General of Romania in Munich. The Romanian community in Bavaria is roughly 300,000-strong.

During the meeting with community members, Minister Toiu highlighted the 'historical density' of the Romanian presence in the region, where the heritage of Transylvanian Saxons and Swabians intersects with the memory of anti-communist resistance at Radio Free Europe and with new waves of highly skilled professionals, the Foreign Ministry noted.

'I used my presence at the Munich Security Conference to meet with representatives of the Romanian community in Bavaria at the Consulate General. If I were to describe this community in one sentence, I would say it is one of the most complex and nuanced outside Romania's borders. We are talking about roughly 300,000 Romanians who today represent an essential part of the 'human infrastructure' behind Bavaria's prosperity. From IT specialists, doctors, and engineers to entrepreneurs and workers in the automotive, construction, and agricultural sectors, Romanians here generate value and respect in a German state where the heritage of Saxons and Swabians meets the memory of anti-communist resistance at Radio Free Europe and the new waves of highly qualified specialists. It is a mix of generations and life stories that forms a mature and highly demanding community,' Toiu wrote on Sunday on Facebook.

She also emphasized that 'the economic relationship between Romania and Bavaria has become one of major strategic importance, as this state is the engine of German investment in Romania, with hundreds of Bavarian-capital companies active on the Romanian market and bilateral trade reaching a historic level of around 8 billion euros annually'.

'I informed community members today that, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, I held a bilateral meeting with Eric Beisswenger, Bavaria's State Minister for European and International Affairs. We discussed launching Romanian-language classes for children in local German schools starting this school year, as well as expanding the free courses organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry together with the Romanian Language Institute, so that Romanian children can preserve their linguistic identity,' Oana Toiu added.

According to the release, the meeting with Minister Beisswenger also resulted in the decision to resume the work of the Romania - Bavaria Joint Commission in March 2026 in Bucharest, a forum where joint investments and concrete solutions for protecting workers' rights will be discussed.

Also in Munich, Minister Toiu had a bilateral meeting with Hendrik Wüst, the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, with whom she discussed the Romanian community in the region, attracting new investments to Romania, and supporting Romanian entrepreneurs who create value in Germany. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Livia Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)