| dc.description.abstract | Romania, in light of its geopolitical situation in Europe and with its 22 million inhabitants, plays the role of an interface between the European Union (EU) and the Balkans as well as Black Sea regions. After the fall of the Berlin wall and the emergence of a democratic regime, Romania very soon established in 1990 diplomatic relations with the EU. The same year, Romania signed a Trade and Co-operation Agreement with it. In 1993, a far-reaching Association Agreement called “Europe Agreement” which already recognised Romania's goal of becoming a member of the EU. This agreement, which created a free trade zone between Romania and the Member States, was already part of the strategy of the EU to prepare Romania for accession, which also included substantial financial and technical assistance. |
