‘We support Ukraine against Russian aggression. We want the fighting to stop, we want Russia to remain at the negotiating table and be ready to stop this war’
.’Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan for “Romania’s major contribution to European security every day”.
Romania and Germany support Ukraine against Russian aggression, Merz said.
“We want the fighting to stop, we want Russia to remain at the negotiating table and be ready to stop this war,” the chancellor said at a joint press conference in Berlin.
The German Chancellor’s main statements:
- It is a new era of great power policies in which our freedom, security and well-being are no longer a given. Few states feel this in their daily lives like Romania.
- Romania contributes major to European security every day. Thank you personally and on behalf of the Federal Government.
- Romania and Germany support Ukraine politically, financially, humanitarianly and militarily. We are helping our Ukrainian friends in these cruel winter days, in which Russia is systematically attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and which has also led to a humanitarian crisis in the country.
- Through its energy supplies, Romania makes a major contribution to Ukraine.
- The federal government has allocated an additional support of 160 million euros for Ukraine’s energy system, we also deliver modular power plants, because Ukraine is attacked by Russia every day
- We deliver defense systems, drones, ammunition.
- We continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. We want the fighting to stop, we want Russia to remain at the negotiating table and be ready to stop this war.
- It is very good that the negotiations in Abu Dhabi continue.
- We also discussed how we can combat hybrid aggression from Russia.
- Germany and Romania are firmly responding to these challenges. It is the fourth time that German planes contribute to the surveillance of Romania’s airspace.
- Romania plays an important role in Europe’s energy supply. In this area we see an important potential.
- One thing is clear: our efforts at national level must also be reflected in an adequate response at European level, and this must also be reflected in the multiannual financial framework.
- We want a visible reduction in bureaucracy and a much more robust single market.
- I welcome the fact that Romania also supported the Mercosur agreement. We also talked about the future agreement with India.
Statements by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan:
- We are going through a period of uncertainty. The pressure on European economies and the increasingly tough global competition, the war in Ukraine force us to be more efficient in our decisions. The partnership between Romania and Germany allows for this type of approach.
- Germany is Romania’s main economic partner. Bilateral trade exceeded €42 billion in 2024. We expect the same trend in 2025. German investments are over 18 billion euros. Over 10,000 companies with German capital are active in Romania, with over 200,000 Romanian employees. That means jobs, technology transfer and stability. But, beyond the figures, it means trust between Romania and Germany.
- We aim to develop this collaboration. I discussed today with Chancellor Merz about increasing investment in strategic areas such as energy, industry, and defense, including by leveraging European instruments, such as the SAFE program. There are areas that will decide Europe’s competitiveness in the coming years and where Romania wants to be a partner you can rely on.
- The memorandum that the two ministries of defense will sign today is a practical tool that allows us to modernize our defense industry and respond more quickly to security needs.
- Romania and Germany share the same vision of the importance of restoring peace and security in the Black Sea region. I presented to the Chancellor our objectives and actions for the defense of the Eastern Flank and ensuring security in the Black Sea area. Air defense is one of our priorities, and Germany’s contribution in this area is necessary and appreciated.
- As far as Ukraine is concerned, we support all efforts to reach a just and lasting peace. Russia’s attacks on civilians and on critical infrastructure, including energy, seriously affect the population and we must take these things into account in our political and security decisions.
- For Romania, the Republic of Moldova is a strategic priority. The stability of Chisinau and its European path matter for the entire region. In this context, the role of the European Union is essential, and opening accession negotiations as soon as possible would be an important signal for citizens and for regional security.
- Another point of our discussions was Romania’s accession to the OECD. I thanked the Chancellor for his continued support for this goal. Romania wants to have better standards, more effective public policies and more international credibility. That is why we intend to complete this accession process this year.
- The relationship between Romania and Germany is not only about institutions and policies. I thank Germany for the support given to Romanians who live, work and integrate into German society. At the same time, I thank you for the support offered to the German community in Romania, the Saxons and the Swabians, through projects that contribute to the preservation of their identity and for the promotion of the cultural heritage that these communities represent for Romania.
- Today we looked at what’s next and what we can do together. Romania and Germany can do more together, if we focus on results. We have a solid foundation, common interests and the ability to make decisions and support each other in the European Union.
- I thank Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz for today’s meeting. We will continue the discussions in Bucharest, I hope, in the near future, focusing on what we have to do.
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