EXCLUSIVE Romanian PM Ciolacu’s visit to Olaf Scholz holds significance as it involves discussions on a strategic partnership, German investment in fertilizer production, and the potential establishment of permanent German troops in Romania.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu discussed Tuesday in Berlin with Chancellor Olaf Scholz the conclusion of an action plan, equivalent to a strategic partnership, government sources told G4Media. Romania currently has strategic partnerships with the US, France, the UK, Spain, and Italy. Germany does not use this policy instrument but concludes joint action plans with countries with which it has privileged relations.

„We intend to start discussions between the two governments to establish a joint action plan on issues of strategic interest and a permanent dialogue format that will enable us to achieve the objectives set. Raising our diplomatic relations to a strategic level is an important moment for our bilateral cooperation”, Prime Minister Ciolacu said at the joint press conference with Olaf Scholz.

In addition, Germany wants to invest in the production of fertilizers in Romania, among the companies with which talks have been held is the petrochemical giant BASF.

Chancellor Scholz has also opened talks with Prime Minister Ciolacu on the deployment of German troops in Romania to defend NATO’s eastern flank, sources told G4Media.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on 26 June that Germany was preparing to deploy 4,000 troops permanently in Lithuania to secure the Baltic country against Russian threats.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is the man who radically changed Germany’s security strategy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for the first time since the Second World War allowed the German military to be permanently stationed abroad.

The two heads of government discussed the economic dimension of the bilateral relationship in Berlin on Tuesday, with Germany expressing interest in investing in petrochemicals, given gas discoveries in Romania.

One of the targets for German companies is the fertilizer industry, whose raw material is natural gas. The BASF group has expressed interest in investing in Romania, according to G4Media sources.

Another area of interest for Germany is the building materials industry in Romania, government sources told G4Media. The interest is motivated by the upcoming start of reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, and Romania will be a gateway for foreign companies to participate in the reconstruction.