Netherlands–Romania relations

Netherlands – Romania relations is the official relationship between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Romania. The Ambassador to Romania is concurrently accredited to Moldova. Romania has an embassy in The Hague and honorary consulates in Berkel-Enschot, Heeg, Rotterdam and Venlo.[1] The Netherlands has an embassy in Bucharest, honorary consolates in Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara and Constanța, and since 2016 an office in Chișinău in Moldova.[2]

Dutch–Romanian relations

Netherlands
Romania
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of the Netherlands, BucharestEmbassy of Romania, The Hague
Envoy
Ambassador Roelof van EesAmbassador Brândușa Ioana Predescu

Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. The Romanian Embassy in Hague is also the Permanent Representative of Romania at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as well as the Romanian Authority providing direct contact with any other international institutions and organizations based in The Netherlands.[3]

Brânduşa Predescu has been appointed Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in August 2016 and Roelof van Ees was appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania in 2019.

History

The first Dutch diplomatic representative in Romania was established on 21 December 1841 with a vice-consulate in Galaţi. On 25th August 1856, a mission was established in Bucharest as a consulate-general with broader powers and duties and in 1857 four honorary consulates were founded: in Botoşani, Focşani, Roman and Giurgiu. In January 1880, The Netherlands recognized the independence of Romania and the consulate in Bucharest was raised to diplomatic agency level. The consul Jean A. Keun presented his letter of credence as Chargé d'affaires. On 13 February 1880, Romania and The Netherlands officially launched the diplomatic relations at the level of legation.[3]

Between 1880 and 1898 Romania was represented in the Netherlands through its legation in Brussels. The first head of the mission called on 17 of April 1880 was minister Mihai Mitilineu. In 1898, a Romanian legation was established in The Hague led by Ion N. Papiniu. In 1900 the Romanian legation in The Hague had in subordination the general-consulate of Rotterdam and the consulates of Amsterdam, Dordrecht and Scheveningen.[3]

On 25 August 1966 the relationships between Romania and The Netherlands were raised to embassy level.[3]

Rotterdam and Constanţa are twinned since 1968 and Sibiu is officially twinned with Deventer since 2007.[4]

Economic and commercial relations

In 2013, record values were registered in terms of the value of the trade exchanges volume, Romanian exports, and Dutch investments in Romania. The volume of trade exchanges had a total of 3573.93 million euro (export: 1538.06, import: 2035.87), up by +11.77% over 2012.[5] The Netherlands has maintained and strengthened its position among the top ten trade partners of Romania.

The Netherlands holds the first place in the ranking by country of residence of investors in companies with foreign capital. More than six thousand companies with Dutch capital were registered. Main business fields with high potential for bilateral cooperation are energy and environment, infrastructure development, architecture,[6] industrial subcontracting, agriculture, tourism, information technology and telecommunications. Among the main Dutch investors in Romania are Unilever, ING Group, Philips, Damen Group, Friesland Campina, Heineken, Nutricia, KPMG, Nuon, Wavin, Fokker, and DAF Trucks.[5]

From 2014 to 2015, the number of migrant workers from Romania in The Netherlands increased from 6 thousand to 13 thousand. As of 2014, Romanian nationals can work in the Netherlands without work permit restrictions.[7]

Legal framework:[5]

  • 19 April 1994, Bucharest: Governmental Agreement on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments (in force since 1 February 1995).
  • 5 March 1998, The Hague: Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Wealth (in force since 29 July 1999).
  • 5 March 1998: Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Economic Cooperation Programme between the two Governments (in force since 11 August 1998).
  • 25 April 2005, Neumünster Abbey: Treaty of Accession 2005 (effective 1 January 2007).
  • 2008: Memorandum of Understanding regarding water management between Romanian Waters National Administration and Water Administrations Union of the Netherlands.

State visits

Netherlands to Romania
  • Visits at Prime Minister level:[9]
    • 1994, 2001, 2003

Romania to the Netherlands
  • Visits at Prime Minister level:[9]
    • 1996, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2016
  • Visits at ministerial level:[9]
    • 7 December 2010: bilateral talks on consular affairs.
    • 26 April 2011: bilateral talks on European affairs.
    • 6-7 September 2011: visit of the Romanian minister of Justice, Cătălin Predoiu.
    • 15 September 2011: visit of the Romanian minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Anca Boagiu.

In 2001, Michael I of Romania visited The Netherlands. In 2019, his daughter Margareta of Romania visited The Netherlands to consolidate Dutch-Romanian relations.[12]

Diplomacy

See also

Moldova-Netherlands relations

References
  1. "EMBASSY OF ROMANIA in the Kingdom of the Netherlands". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  2. "Roemenië" (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  3. "Brief history". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  4. "Working visit and celebration 25 years partnership Sibiu-Deventer". 2015. Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  5. "Economic and commercial relations". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  6. "Dutch Architecture, Design and Innovation Showcased Each Year at SHARE Forum Architecture and Engineering Expo-conferences". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  7. "More Eastern Europeans working in the Netherlands". Statistics Netherlands. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  8. "Address by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands at the state dinner given by the President of Romania, Bucharest, 13 november 2001". 13 November 2001. Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  9. "Political Relations". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  10. "Memorandum de colaborare între Portul Constanța şi Portul Rotterdam, semnat la Galați" (in Romanian). Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  11. "Romanians You Should Know: Stefan Kovacs". Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
  12. "Margareta en Radu willen relaties met Nederland consolideren" (in Dutch). 6 Oct 2019. Retrieved 3 Jan 2020.
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