Increased British investment

Top British companies, including Vodafone, Aviva Insurance, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Unilever, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and Provident Financial are present in Romania. 4,000 British companies are active all around the country. The take-over of ABN AMRO by Royal Bank of Scotland will add a British presence in the financial-banking sector and will increase the total volume of British investment in Romania, currently estimated at over €4bn.

In spring 2008, the Embassy organised a conference in London with the CBI to promote trade and investment with Romania, where 120 businesspeople were joined by Lord Digby Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Varujan Vosganian, Minister of Economy and Finance. Lord Digby Jones subsequently visited Bucharest and Brasov, accompanied by representatives of Rolls Royce, Wellstream, HSBC and Allen&Overy.

Supporting the fight against corruption

The activities supported by the Embassy include projects aimed at reducing bureaucracy within the central and local public administration, as well as the customs administration. The Embassy has co-operated on anti-corruption programmes with the Ministries of Interior and Administrative Reform (MIRA), Health and Justice. The UK will participate also in two  EU twinning projects, one on the alleviation of corruption in the public administration and the other one aimed at supporting the National Anti-corruption Department in improving its investigation capacities concerning complex economic frauds.

UK bilateral assistance

The UK has given considerable bilateral assistance to Romania over the last 5 years through the FCO’s Global Opportunities Fund (GOF). Nearly 40 projects worth over Euro 4 million helped Romania prepare for EU accession by reforming the judicial system, fighting corruption and increasing the efficiency of the public administration.

GOF funding for Romania has now ended. This does not signal the end of UK financial support.  In fact, financial support from the UK will now be much greater than it was before accession.  It will come through the EU budget: the UK will be a very substantial contributor to the Euro 30 billion in EU structural and rural development funding available to Romania 2007-13.  UK experts stand ready to help.

The UK will continue to support and take a close interest in Romania’s development. Our Bilateral Assistance Programme will promote initiatives that address key global priorities, such as the fight against climate change. A number of UK experts are actively engaged in Twinning Projects that are helping Romania tackle corruption, develop the Probation Service and spend EU funds effectively.

Co-operation with key Ministries

Together with the Ministry of Interior, a large bilateral project has helped county councils to apply for structural funds. UK law enforcement experts have continued to work with their Romanian counterparts to tackle serious organised crime, for example, people trafficking.

With the Ministry of Defence and other actors, we have a strategic security partnership. Our troops serve together in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have a bilateral training programme, with many Romanian personnel attending UK sponsored courses. The UK is helping to develop a NATO-declared multilateral infrastructure logistic unit, while we enjoy close contacts at all levels facilitating close bi-lateral co-operation.    Both the UK and Romania collaborate closely within NATO and more widely on Peace Support operations.  

Twinning between Romania and British regions and towns

British and Romanian regions are developing increasing links, through exchanges of experience and commercial opportunities. Good examples include Leeds/Brasov, Wakefield/Slatina region and East Midlands/Prahova. Cluj Napoca and Cardiff made a first step in September 2007 and first contacts were established in March 2008 between Nottingham and Timisoara. Hampshire County and Arges County developed a pilot project for civil emergency planning, which will be extended to the whole country.

Raising climate change awareness

The Embassy's collaboration with the Romanian Ministry of Environment and other government departments included public events about climate change, meetings with British experts, such as with FCO Special Representative on Climate Change John Ashton. A debate on global warming was organised for the first time ever in the Romanian Parliament, in April 2008, with the participation of British Parliamentarian Elliot Morley. The British Embassy co-operated successfully with NGOs on several projects: the 'Young Ambassadors against Climate Change' initiative targeting pupils all over the country, a 'Climate Change training seminar' to improve knowledge of the issue and reporting skills of local media.

Sharing experience on education

The British Council is the reference point in teaching English language in its centres in Bucharest, Cluj and Iasi. In 2008, the British Council celebrated 70 years of activity in Romania and is considered a benchmark of professionalism in English language study and British culture.

Civil society support

British NGOs are very active in Romania offering help in areas such as medical care, hospices, assistance to disadvantaged children, disabled persons, Roma, environment protection, animal rights and the preservation of the Romanian cultural heritage. The bear reservation in Zarnesti, the refurbishment of the County Hospital in Salaj County and the 'Casa Sperantei' Hospice for incurable patients in Brasov are just a few examples of the involvement of charitable British organisations in Romania.

High level visits

To Romania

• Prime Minister Gordon Brown (April 2008)
• Foreign Secretary David Miliband (Sept 2007, April 2008), and
• Minister for Crime Reduction Vernon Coaker (March 2008).

To the United Kingdom

• Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu - Tariceanu (December 2007)
• Minister of Justice Catalin Predoiu (June 2008)
• Minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian (December 2007, February 2008),
• Minister of Interior Cristian David (February 2008)
• Minister of Education Cristian Adomnitei (May 2008).

Updated February 2009