Building Bridges: Ambassador Alfredo DURANTE MANGONI’s Heartfelt Message on Romania’s National Day 2023

Message from H.E. Ambassador Alfredo DURANTE MANGONI on the occasion of Romania’s National Day 2023

On behalf of Italy, its institutions, and its citizens, I wish to convey the warmest greetings to the authorities and the fraternal Romanian people on the celebration of Romania’s National Day.

In the second year of the illegitimate war unleashed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and with another conflict in the Middle East sparked by Hamas aggression against Israel, the European Union’s neighborhood continues to endure instability and precarious security conditions. This is accompanied by a wave of hatred and violence affecting EU member states.

In this delicate context, Romania stands out for the strength of its commitment within the Euro-Atlantic framework and its active contribution to easing existing tensions. The country not only reaffirms its strategic importance in the eastern sector of the Alliance and the Black Sea basin but also enhances its profile by playing an essential role in securing alternative routes for Ukrainian wheat exports, thus safeguarding global food security.

In the historical phase we are going through, the need to develop and deepen strategic partnerships with countries closest to us in terms of interests and values becomes increasingly relevant. Italy and Romania perfectly embody this paradigm: as the new year approaches, the moment for the relaunch of our consolidated strategic partnership draws near. During a high-level meeting between our two governments, we will adopt a comprehensive joint political declaration that will elevate our traditional harmony on key European and international issues to a new level. This will better equip us to face the multiple geopolitical challenges and transition our economic, energy, and social models demanded by this era of change. On this journey, our guiding star will remain effective multilateralism, capable of promoting our values and interests, rewarding those who abide by the rules. For this reason, Italy will continue to support Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.

Our bilateral relations flourish in all domains. An active and balanced economic and trade exchange is developing between Romania and Italy: Italy once again ranks as Romania’s second partner in terms of exports and imports. With over 23,000 active Italian businesses, Italy is Romania’s second-largest investor in 2022, contributing €8.15 billion, accounting for 7.6% of total foreign direct investments in the country, an increase from the previous year. Our economic systems boast well-integrated value chains, and our joint growth continues. In pursuit of the goal of strengthening a fully integrated market economy, Romania can continue to rely on Italy, also thanks to our steadfast support on the path to joining the OECD.

We will continue the dialogue between our countries and civil societies, including through the universal language of culture, one of the areas that unites us the most. A few days ago, the major exhibition “Dacia – The Last Frontier of Romanity” was inaugurated at the National Museum of Romania – The Baths of Diocletian, featuring about 1,000 objects from 47 Romanian museums, as well as the National Museum of History of the Republic of Moldova, exhibited together with some pieces from the National Roman Museum. This significant event celebrates our common historical roots. With the recent conclusion of Italian Cuisine Week in Romania, Italian institutions in Bucharest are now focusing on defining a rich calendar of events in the coming months dedicated to space exploration, cinema, design, music, art, and theater, especially in preparation for the centenary of the Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest, which we will celebrate in 2024.

In conclusion, my thoughts turn to our communities – united by interpersonal and associative bonds that are the essence and distinctive feature of Italo-Romanian relations – and especially to our compatriots residing in Romania. May the coexistence of the Romanian and Italian communities in the territories of our two states be a source of pride and serve as a stimulus to collaborate at all levels – institutional, private, and tertiary sectors – to provide responses that meet the citizens’ requirements.

Let us engage in strengthening the partnership and friendship between Italy and Romania, based on mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration, to jointly face the challenges and opportunities of the present and future.

Happy National Day, Romania!

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Alfredo Durante Mangoni

H.E. Ambassador Alfredo DURANTE MANGONI

Editor: Andreea Gudin