Romania – a European country!

On January 1, 2007, Romania became a member state of the European Union, thus marking the end of an intense stage of reforms and economic and institutional preparation and the beginning of a new stage of economic development. Membership involves both rights and obligations. All this derives from the treaties and legislation adopted by the European Union from its inception until now, as in the case of any other Member State of the European Union

Brief history of relations between Romania and the European Union:

  • February 1,1993– Romania signs the European Agreement, which establishes an association between Romania, on the one hand, and the European Communities and their Member States, on the other hand;
  • June, 1995  –Romania submits the application to join the European Union;
    February 1– the European Agreement enters into force;
  • Iuly,1997– The European Commission adopts Agenda 2000, which includes the Opinion on Romania’s application for membership of the European Union;
  • November, 1998– The European Commission publishes the first Country Report on the process of Romania’s accession to the European Union;
  • December,1999– in Helsinki, the European Council decides to start accession negotiations with six candidate countries, including Romania;June – Romania adopts the National Plan for Accession to the European Union;
  • February,2000 – at the meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, dedicated to the launch of the Intergovernmental Conference, the accession negotiations with Romania are officially opened;
  • December 12-13, 2002– The Copenhagen European Council decides on the accession of 10 new member states and adopts roadmaps for Romania and Bulgaria;
    November 20 – The European Parliament considers January 1, 2007 as the target date for Romania’s accession to the European Union;November 13 – Commission adopts a  “Roadmap” for Romania and Bulgaria;
  • March 26, 2003– The European Commission presents the revised edition of the Accession Partnership with Romania;
  • December 17, 2004– at the European Council in Brussels, Romania receives the political confirmation of the conclusion of the accession negotiations to the European Union;
  • April 25, 2005– in an official ceremony, held at the Neumunster Abbey in Luxembourg, the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Union;April 13 – The European Parliament gives the green light to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union;
  • January 1, 2007– Romania becomes a member of European Union;
  • June 4-7, 2009– the first elections for the European Parliament in which Romania participates as a member state. 33 MEPs are elected, more than two thirds of whom are members of the EPP (European People’s Party) and the PSE (European Social Democratic Party);
  • May 22-25, 2014– elections for the European Parliament. The Romanian delegation includes 32 members, one less than in the previous legislature. Half of the MEPs are part of the PES group; January 1 – end of the transition period regarding restrictions on access to the EU labor market for Romanian workers;
  • January-June, 2019– Romania held, for the first time, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Capital: Bucharest

Official language: Romanian

Currency: Romanian leu (RON)

Schengen Area:Romania is currently in the process of joining theSchengen area

Area: 238.390 km2

Population: 19.317.984 inhabitants