The prime minister of the Free State of Bavaria, Markus Soder, emphasized on Tuesday the importance of Romania's accession with full rights to the Schengen area.

We see the progress in Romania, in the security aspects. We are supporting Romania in its accession with full rights in the Schengen area, because the collaboration with Europol, as well as the fight against corruption, have made great progress, and the authorities are collaborating very well. From the Bavarian Ministry of Interior, we have very important and good information, that's why it is very important that Romania can enter the Schengen area. We must show this as a symbol of quality and respect. Together we fight against crime, against human trafficking. against arms and drug trafficking, Markus Soder said, in a joint press statement along prime minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Markus Soder noted the "very close" bilateral relationship, in the context of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian-Bavarian institutional cooperation.

We too are interested in deepening these relations. It is very important for Bavaria, we are very committed. (...) We have had many meetings with Romania, since 2018: five times with the heads of government. We are bridge builders. Southeastern Europe is one of our main partners from an economic, cultural and political point of view, he said.

At the same time, the prime minister mentioned that over 213,000 Romanian citizens live in Bavaria and highlighted their contribution to society. He also pleaded for an intensification of economic relations.

Germany is Romania's best partner, and Bavaria is Romania's strongest trade partner - we have increased the trade volume five times, and the transfer of goods has exceeded 8 billion euros, and we are very happy that there will be a Bavarian-Romanian economic forum, so to support Bavarian companies to invest in Romania and to get to know this area. It is very important to strengthen the field of defense industry, Markus Soder said.

Markus Soder also spoke about a deepening of relations in the field of culture and education, mentioning that more than ten school partnerships have been concluded and that more than 1,000 Romanian students study in Bavaria.

As from the fall of 2024, courses will also be offered in the Romanian language. They will be able to learn Romanian and the history of Romania, so that Romanian children born in Germany have the opportunity to know the language and history, he said.

Markus Soder announced that next year he will pay a visit to Romania, being the guest of the Romanian prime minister in Bucharest and the Danube Delta.

The Danube is our binder. The Danube strategy is also a binder, because we have many programmes here that lead to this cohesion, he said.

Marcel Ciolacu was received, on Tuesday, by Markus Soder, at the headquarters of the Bavarian State Chancellery, during his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. The welcoming ceremony was followed by the joint meeting of the two governments, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian-Bavarian institutional cooperation.

During the official visit, the prime minister is accompanied by the minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Sorin Grindeanu, by the minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, by the minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, by the minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan-Radu Oprea, by the minister of Labor and Social Solidarity, Simona Bucura-Oprescu.

According to the data presented by the Romanian government, among the German states, Bavaria represents the most important investor and commercial partner for Romania, with a trade volume of approximately 8.37 billion euros. On the 2nd place is the Land of Baden-Wurttemberg with 8.22 billion euros, and on the 3rd place is the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia with 7.39 billion euros, these mainly referring to the fields of car manufacturing, parts and components in the automotive industry, IT.AGERPRES(RO - author: Irinela Visan, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - editor: Maria Voican)