After her meeting with the new Romanian President Dacian Cioloş, Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the good cooperation between the two states. For many reasons Romania is an important partner, she said – in the European Union and NATO, but also as a result of the emotional ties to Romania of many ethnic German Romanians who now live in Germany, and the ties to Germany on the part of Romania’s German minority.

Angela Merkel underscored the importance of the excellent economic relations the two countries enjoy, and reported that these are to be further expanded. This presupposes improvements in the legal system and administration in Romania, and that steps are taken to address the problem of corruption. Recently, remarkable successes have been recorded here, said the Chancellor.

Preserving and expanding Schengen

Other items on the agenda included securing the EU’s external borders and the question of the equitable sharing of responsibilities by EU member states, as well as Romania’s moves to join the Schengen Area. The Schengen project is "extremely topical", said Angela Merkel. Everything should be done "to ensure that we can genuinely retain the freedom of movement within the borders of the Schengen Area".

Angela Merkel described the Schengen Area as a factor that enables Europe to come together and as a factor in Europe’s economic growth. "That is why I believe that everything must be done to preserve Schengen." The countries that are not yet part of the Schengen Area must be given the opportunity to join, she said.

Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş stressed that Romania is the second largest contributor to Frontex, the European border management agency, after Germany, and that it already acts like a Schengen member state in securing the EU’s external borders.

Rethinking welfare benefits

At the press conference, Angela Merkel also mentioned the matter of restricting the payment of welfare benefits to citizens of other EU states. Every Romanian coming to Germany to work is very welcome, she said. "But if individuals come only to obtain welfare benefits that are not based on work, as demanded by the ruling of the Federal Social Court, then I agree that it is reasonable to expect them to return to their own country," declared Angela Merkel.

The fact that different social welfare systems exist in Europe must also be reflected in this, she added. "We must find ways to deal with this anomaly," concluded the Chancellor.

Attacks in Cologne – taking a clear stance

Referring to the attacks in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, Angela Merkel once again described them as "disgusting criminal acts" which Germany is not prepared to tolerate. The events in Cologne raise serious questions, she continued, that go well beyond the city of Cologne. "We must regularly review and consider whether we have done everything necessary in terms of requiring non-German citizens to leave Germany and in terms of deportation, in order to take a very clear stance vis à vis those who are unwilling to respect our laws."