COUNTRY NAME: ROMÂNIA (adopted in 1862, after the Union of Wallachia and Moldavia, two Romanian Principalities, in 1859, referred to as the creation of the Romanian modern State)

Constitution: A new Constitution has been adopted on the 8th of December 1991 (celebrated since as "Constitution's Day"). The 1991 Constitution was amended by the Law no. 429/2003 on the revision of the Constitution of Romania, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, part I, no. 758 of 29 October 2003.
Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic. Executive power - The Government (the Prime Minister appointed by the President and endorsed by the Parliament). Legislative power: The Parliament - Bicameral system: the Senate is the upper Chamber and the Chamber of Deputies. Legislative elections every four years. Election according to a combination of a majority and proportionality system. As the supreme legislative body, with the Parliament lies the final decision on budgetary and legislative matters.

Electoral system: universal direct suffrage over the age of 18

Head of State: President Ion ILIESCU (elected in December 2000), is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Army
Prime Minister: Adrian NASTASE (since December 2000)
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mircea Dan GEOANA (since December 2000)
Minister of European Integration: Alexandru FARCAS (since November 2003)
Chief Negotiator with the EU: Vasile PUSCAS, Minister Delegate for European Integration (member of the Government)
Ambassador to the EU: Lazar COMANESCU (since June 2001)

The National Flag: Three equal vertical stripes - red, yellow and blue
The National Coat of Arms: An eagle holding a cross in its beak and a sword and a sceptre in its claws, as well as the symbols of the five historical provinces - Wallachia, Moldova, Transylvania, Banat and Dobrogea (since 1992).
The National Anthem: "Awaken Thee, Romanian" - Lyrics: Andrei Muresan; music: Anton Pann (since 1990).
National Day of Romania: The 1st of December (celebrating the 1918 Union of all Romanians into a national state).

Geographical Data

Romania is situated in the centre of the European continent, neighbouring the Ukraine to the North, Republic of Moldova and the Black Sea to the East; Bulgaria to the South, Serbia and Montenegro to the South and South-West and Hungary to the West. Its surface is of 238,391 sq km (the 12th position in Europe according to the surface) and the length of the border is 3190,3 km.
Romania has a balanced topographical structure: mountains - The Carpathians (31%), hills and plateaus (33 %), plains (33 %).

Hydrography: The river Danube in the South of the country, length 1,075 km (out of the total 2,850 km from its source to its flowing into the sea).
Other rivers: Mures, Olt, Prut, Siret, Ialomita, Somes, Arges, Jiu, Buzau, Bistrita etc.
Lakes: approximately 2,300 lakes and over1,150 ponds (2,650 sq.km). The best knowns are Razelm (415 sq.km), Sinoe (171 sq.km), Brates (21 sq.km), Tasaul (20 sq.km), Techirghiol (12 sq.km) and Snagov (5.8 sq.km).

Climate: Temperate continental, with oceanic influences from the West, Mediterranean from the Southwest, excessive continental from the Northeast. Mean annual temperatures: ranging between 8 degrees in the North and 11 degrees in the South.

Population: 22,489 million inhabitants (as of the 1st of July 1999), the 10th place in Europe and a density of 94.2 (the 26th place in Europe).
Romanians living abroad: around 9 million. In Europe, in the Republic of Moldova, around 4 million. In the Hungary, Serbia, Greece, Albania approx. 2 million. In the United States of America and Canada over 2 million. Others in South America, South Africa and Australia.
Life expectancy: men - 66.5 years; women - 73.2 years.

Official Language: Romanian (Neo-Latin language, Latin alphabet of 31 letters). The minorities (Hungarians, Germans, Serbs, etc) may use their mother tongue in education, administration, and justice.
English and French are the foreign languages spoken most, followed by German, Spanish and Italian.

Capital: Bucharest - municipality (1,521 sq. km, divided into six administrative districts, with a population of 2,066,723 lies in the South-Eastern part of the country, in the Romanian Plain (altitude 85 m). It dates back to the 14th century and is recorded in writing for the first time in 1459 as residence of Prince Vlad the Impaler. Due to its cultural and social life very well connected to t Western Europe between the two World Wars, Bucharest was known as the "Little Paris".

Administrative division: 41 counties (judet) and the Bucharest municipality (with county status), 260 towns (out of which 57 municipalities), 2,688 communes (with about 13,000 villages).

Official Hour: GMT + 2 hours

National currency: Leu (lei, at plural) - ROL

Political Situation

The Government's Programme (2000) has set five major goals:

· to re-launch growth and restructure the economy;
· to reduce social polarization;
· to restore the authority of the state and of its institutions;
· to cut down on bureaucracy, to fight corruption and crime;
· to consolidate and increase our country's opportunity of joining the European Union and NATO.

Foreign Policy Priorities: Since 1990, the main foreign policy objective is the integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, undertaken by all the Governments. Romania is also committed to its role of strategic player in the region in what peace and stability are concerned. The Romanian Presidency-in-Office of the OSCE in 2001 has been considered as a success.

Current status in the EU Accession Negotiations:

Romania opened 22 chapters and provisionally closed 9 of them (05 - Company Law, 08 - Fisheries, 12 - Statistics, 16 - SMEs, 17 - Science and Research, 18, 23 - Consumer Protection, 26 - External Relations, 27 - CFSP). There are still opened the following chapters: 01 - Free Movement of Goods, 02 - Free Movement of persons, 04 - Free Movement of Capitals, 06 - Competition, 09 - Transports, 10 - Taxation, 13 - Social Policy, 14 - Energy, 19 - Telecommunications, 20 - Culture and Audio-Visual Policy, 21 - Regional Policy and Structural Funds, 22 - Environment, 25 - Customs Union. By the end of 2001, according to the commitment of the current Government, Romania submitted Position Papers for all negotiating chapters where is requested to do so (29 chapters). The Romanian authorities envisage to provisionally close all chapters by the beginning of 2004, at the latest.

During the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, Romania aims at the opening of as many as possible of the remaining chapters and to closing as many as possible. At the same times, it is envisaged to open Chapter 30 - Institutions at the very same time with other CCs.

Recent political events:

2001
- Romania has been President-in-Office of the OSCE throughout the year
December: According to its commitment, the Government approved and forwarded to the EU Council the remaining position papers for negotiation chapters
- 7th: The EU Council removed the visa regime for Romanian citizens travelling in the Schengen countries
- 4th: Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar visited Romania
November: 13th - The Regular Report of the Commission has been published, endorsing, for the first time, positive signals of recovery of the Romanian economy.
26th - Commissioner Franz Fischler visited Romania
September: Director general Eneko Landaburu (DG Enlargement) visited Romania
April: Commissioner Gunter Verheugen visited Romania
January: The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, visited Romania

Recent Economic Developments

After one year of implementing pro-active policies, the main economic indicators show an improved position of Romania:

· GDP (preliminary) growth was 5.3 % in 2001, i.e. the highest rate in Central an Eastern Europe;
· Gross fixed capital formation was up 6 %;
· Industrial output grew by 8.4 % over the previous year,
· Labour productivity in industry grew by 16,5 % through January - November 2001(compared to the 2000 average), while real wage earnings stood at 7%;
· The revival of the economy has led to a shrinking of unemployment from over 10 % at the end of 2000 to about 8 % twelve months later. Part of this is due to the incentives created for small and medium sized companies during 2001.
· From January to November 2001 exports rose by 11.1% compared to the previous year, with almost three-quarters of the overall exports going to OECD markets. Pre - September 11, export growth stood at 15%.

One of the most important achievements in the macroeconomic policies was curbing the inflation. Consumer price inflation has dropped from 40.7% in 2000 to 30.3% in 2001 and is set to reach 22% for the present year. The inflation target agreed with the IMF has been met, despite the need to increase domestic energy prices, and the carry-over effect of higher food prices from 2000.

Main Historical Data:

VIth Century BC - The ancestors of the Romanians - The Getae and the Dacians are referred to by all the important historians of the time

Ist Century BC - The Roman occupation of Dacia. The famous Trajan's Column in Rome still witnesses the historic victory of the Roman Emperor. A process of Romanisation is initiated.

271-274 - Withdrawal of the Roman army from Dacia (during the time of Emperor Aurelianus).

IInd and the VIth Centuries - The synthesis of Dacians and Romans on the ancient territory of Dacia takes place: the ethno-genesis of the Romanian people, that emerged in the history as the first Christian people in the region.
The Romanians are today the only descendants of the Eastern Roman stock; the Romanian language is one of the major heirs of the Latin language, together with French, Italian, Spanish and Romania is an oasis of Latinity in this part of Europe.
IVth-XIIIth Centuries - he Romanian people had to face the waves of migratory tribes
Starting with the Xth Century - The existence of statehood entities of the Romanian population are mentioned by historical sources
Second half of the XIVth century - A new threat against the Romanian lands emerged: the Ottoman Empire. For the next 500 years, the Romanians were to be at the guards of Christian Europe against Muslim invasion.
The XVth Century has been the century of important anti-Ottoman wars at European scale (Iancu de Hunedoara, Vlad the Impaler, Stephen the Great).
1600-1601 - The first political Union of the three Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania) under Prince Michael the Brave (1593-1601).

The XVIIth Century brings an epoch of Romanian cultural Renaissance. (The Bible of Bucharest - 1688)

1848-1849 - In the three Romanian Principalities takes place a revolution closely linked to the European movements of the time.

24th of January 1859 - The Union of two Romanian Principalities: Wallachia and Moldavia, under the rule of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859-1866). He initiated a programme of comprehensive reforms, which contributed to the modernization of the Romanian society and state structures

1866 - Following the abdication of Cuza, Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern is enthroned.

1 July 1866 - The first Constitution of modern Romania is adopted, following the model of the 1831 Belgian Constitution.

21 May 1877 - Proclamation of the independence of Romania (the 9th of May is celebrated since as "Independence Day").

13 July 1878 - The Treaty of Berlin endorses the independence of Romania.

1881 - Romania becomes kingdom and Carol I undertakes the name of Carol I of Romania.

27 March 1918 - The National Assembly in Chisinau decides over the union of Bessarabia to Romania.

1 December 1918 - The Romanian national unitary state is created through the union of Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures (all of them Romanian provinces) with Romania.

1923 - A new Constitution of Romania is adopted, re-confirming the constitutional monarchy regime in the country.

30 December 1947 - King Michael I is forced to give up throne. The Popular Republic of Romania is proclaimed.

December 1989 - Popular revolt in Timisoara (since 16 December) and Bucharest (since 21 December).

22 December 1989 - Victory of the Romanian Revolution and the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu. The National Salvation Front becomes the ruling force of the country.

20 May 1990 - The first free elections of the post-communist period takes place, won by the National Salvation Front.

8 December 1991 - A new Constitution is adopted, validated by referendum.

1 February 1993 - The Europe Agreement of Romania is signed (it entered into force on 1 February 1995)

22 June 1995 - Romania submits its application for EU membership

3 November 1996 - General elections won by the former Christian-Democrat opposition.

26 November 2000 - General elections that brought to Government the Party of Social Democracy of Romania.

2001 - Romania is the President-in-Office of the OSCE

Art, Culture, Traditions

Romania is the country of Enescu, Brancusi, Eliade, prominent figures of the European and world's culture. Modern Romanian culture proves a remarkable synchronism with the trends in the European culture, not only through the assimilation of modernity, but also through the novelty of the cultural experiences proposed to the world by Romanian artists (the dada literary movement has its origins in Romania, for example).

Between the two World Wars, Romanian literature has blossomed. Some of the Romanian writers of the period are on the side of the European realism (Mihail Sadoveanu, Liviu Rebreanu, Camil Petrescu, Lucian Blaga, Tudor Arghezi), while others are some of the most significant representatives of the European Avant-Garde, famous also in the area of French literature: Tristan Tzara, Ilarie Voronca, Benjamin Fondane, Gherasim Luca, Urmuz.

The Communist rule restrained only temporarily the creative forces of Romanian artists. After a tough period of promoting "an art for the working class" that did not survive to its authors, a strong, gifted generation of authors emerged and managed to fight censorship and restrictions, the so-called "Generation of the '60s" (Ana Blandiana, Marin Sorescu, Nichita Stanescu, Augustin Buzura, Fanus Neagu, Stefan Banulescu, Nina Cassian, Ileana Malancioiu, Romulus Guga). A breath of fresh air in the Romania literature has followed this Golden Generation, a "generation in blue jeans" or the "generation of the '80s" (Stefan Agopian. Mircea Nedelciu, Mircea Cartarescu, Gheorge Craciun).

A distinct mention has to be made regarding the great Romanian writers that chose to live abroad immediately after the coming of Communists or escaped the Communist regime - Eugene Ionesco, Mircea Eliade, Emil Cioran.

In what the music is concerned, Yehudi Menuhin has to be quoted - "the Romanians are one of the most musical nations of the world", words really supported by the world-wide famous artists as George Enesco, Sergiu Celibidache, Sergiu Comissiona. To these composers or conductors, interpreters should be added as the piano players Dinu Lipatti and Valentin Gheorghiu, Clara Haskil or opera singers as Nicolae Herlea, David Ohanesian, Angela Burlacu, Ileana Cotrubas, Leontina Vaduva, Ruxandra Donose, Gabriela Cegolea, Mariana Nicolesco.

Romania has also an excellent theatrical and cinema tradition. Its representatives internationally acknowledged could be considered Liviu Ciulei, Maia Morgenstern, Andrei Serban, Lucian Pintilie, Silviu Purcarete, Tompa Gabor.

Visual arts are also very well represented: starting with the probably most famous Romanian sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, disciple of Auguste Rodin, and continuing with painters as Theodor Pallady, Stefan Luchian, Corneliu Baba, Horia Bernea.It may be worth saying a word of the thirst of Romanians for authentic art - be it literature, film and theatre or visual arts: most of the Romanian houses have shelves of books and collection of discs, as reading, music and exhibitions, together with an irrepressible humour, were probably the most at hand ways to survive the greyish, worsening day-to-day life.

As for the Romanian cuisine it has to be said that it is a cosmopolite one, with Greek, Turkish, Slav, but also French influences. Nevertheless, mititei (grilled raw meat) and sarmale (compulsory for Easter and Christmas), together with mamaliga (polenta) are definitely part of a subtle acquis the Romanians bring to Europe. Especially if this acquis is completed by the unique richness of the Romanian folklore and popular art and the flavours of the Romanian beverages, be it wine or spirits.