The Embassy of Romania to the Kingdom of Spain, in cooperation with the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Madrid, inaugurated on July 7, in El Retiro Park, in the Spanish capital city, the exhibition 'The Romania-Spain Relationship Reflected in the Press: A Bilateral Historical Perspective', an anniversary project marking 145 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Spain. The exhibition is organised together with the Romanian Cultural Institute in Madrid, with the support of the National News Agency AGERPRES, and can be visited free of charge until July 26, 2026.

The opening ceremony was attended by Clara Staicu, Secretary of State for European Affairs, the Middle East and Africa within Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), and Fernando Mariano Sampedro Marcos, Spain's Secretary of State for the European Union (EU) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, alongside representatives of Spanish authorities, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Madrid, as well as representatives of academic and cultural circles and the Romanian community in Spain, according to a press release from the Embassy of Romania to the Kingdom of Spain.

Clara Staicu highlighted the importance of the anniversary, 'which gives us the opportunity not only to look back at the history we share, but also to reflect on what we have built together and on the future we want to create for the generations to come'.

The Romanian official emphasised that Romania and Spain are close partners within the EU and NATO, sharing the same democratic values and the belief that today's major challenges can only be addressed through cooperation.

Clara Staicu also underlined the importance of cultural dialogue, stating that 'people and culture bring the two countries closer together', according to the press release.

For his part, Secretary of State Fernando Mariano Sampedro Marcos highlighted the close cooperation between Romania and Spain, both bilaterally and multilaterally, referring to their shared historical and cultural roots. He said that 'the relationship between Spain and Romania demonstrates the strength of a common project based on trust, solidarity and the will to move forward together'.

In this context, the Spanish official highlighted the solidarity shown by the two countries in addressing the security challenges created by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and recalled the contribution of Spanish troops deployed in Romania to the security of the Eastern Flank.

The Spanish official also referred to the role of the Romanian community in Spain, one of the largest and best-integrated communities, in strengthening bilateral relations, according to the embassy's statement.

Structured around 24 thematic panels, the exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to discover the main moments that have shaped the development of Romanian-Spanish relations.

The exhibition brings together historical documents on the beginnings of diplomatic relations as reflected in the press, articles covering political, economic and cultural cooperation, Romania's accession to the European Union and NATO, as well as the outstanding contribution of the Romanian community in Spain, according to the statement.

A special section is dedicated to culture, as 'the closeness between the two peoples has been nurtured over time by artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals who have built lasting bridges between Romania and Spain', the document notes.

Raluca Mihaila, Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Romania to the Kingdom of Spain, also spoke about the exhibition's role in preserving shared memory and strengthening ties between the two countries. 'The anniversary project we are inaugurating today tells the story of the relationship between Romania and Spain in a special way. Not through treaties or diplomatic documents, but through the eyes of the press. The press is, in many respects, the living memory of a society. For almost a century and a half, newspapers and magazines in Romania and Spain have reported on official visits, historic moments, institutional cooperation, cultural exchanges, sporting achievements, economic relations, links between people and the European values that unite us,' she said.

The year 2026 marks 145 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Romania and Spain. On June 23, 1881, during the reigns of His Majesty King Carol I of Romania and His Majesty King Alfonso XII of Spain, the two states established diplomatic relations at legation level, following the presentation in Bucharest of credentials by Pedro de Aladro y Kastriota, Spain's charge d'affaires ad interim. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dana Purgaru; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)