Lithuania–Romania relations
Encyclopedia
Lithuania–Romania relations are foreign relations
between Lithuania
and Romania
. Both countries established diplomatic relations on August 26, 1924. Romania recognized Lithuania’s independence on August 26, 1991. Diplomatic relations between both countries resumed on September 13, 1991. Lithuania has an embassy in Bucharest
. Romania has an embassy in Vilnius
. Both countries are full members of the European Union
, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
. Both countries were admitted into NATO in the 2002 expansion.
". On August 26, 1924, diplomatic relations between Romania and the Republic of Lithuania were established. Diplomatic relations were suspended on August 25, 1940 when Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union
. On September 13, 1991 diplomatic relations resumed. The Embassy of Romania in Vilnius was established in 1992. On June 30, 2009, Vygaudas Ušackas
, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs received the outgoing Ambassador of Romania, Gheorghe Tokay. Tokay had been Romania’s Ambassador to Lithuania since 2006.
55.4 million . That represents an increase of 75.3 percent over a comparable period in 2006. Between January and August 2008, Lithuania's exports to Romania were EUR
21.4 million and that represented an 85.7 percent increase from the same period of 2007. Lithuanian direct investments in Romania in 2007 were EUR
74 million. Romanian direct investments in Lithuania EUR
1.2 million. More than 30 Lithuanian companies are actively invested in Romanian economy. Lithuanian companies in Romania include: Europa Group Investment, Hanner, Flynova, Maz Baltic RO, AVC Autoimport and Arvi Agro.
Foreign relations
Foreign relations refers to the ongoing management of relationships between a public policy administrative organisation of a state and other entities external to its authority or influence...
between Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Both countries established diplomatic relations on August 26, 1924. Romania recognized Lithuania’s independence on August 26, 1991. Diplomatic relations between both countries resumed on September 13, 1991. Lithuania has an embassy in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. Romania has an embassy in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. Both countries are full members of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
. Both countries were admitted into NATO in the 2002 expansion.
History
Between 1918 and 1924 "Bucharest politicians were not interested in KaunasKaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
". On August 26, 1924, diplomatic relations between Romania and the Republic of Lithuania were established. Diplomatic relations were suspended on August 25, 1940 when Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. On September 13, 1991 diplomatic relations resumed. The Embassy of Romania in Vilnius was established in 1992. On June 30, 2009, Vygaudas Ušackas
Vygaudas Ušackas
Vygaudas Ušackas is a Lithuanian diplomat, currently appointed as the European Union's special representative and the head of EU mission for Afghanistan...
, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs received the outgoing Ambassador of Romania, Gheorghe Tokay. Tokay had been Romania’s Ambassador to Lithuania since 2006.
State visits
The following state visits took place:- 1994 visit to Vilnius by Ion IliescuIon IliescuIon Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
, the President of RomaniaPresident of RomaniaThe President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
to sign the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Romania and the Republic of Lithuania. - 1995 visit to Bucharest by Algirdas BrazauskasAlgirdas BrazauskasAlgirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union Lithuania from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006....
, the President of the Republic of Lithuania - 1995 official visit to Vilnius by the President of the Senate of Romania
- 1998 visit by Vytautas Landsbergis, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, he participated in the Meeting of the President of the European Parliament with the Presidents of the Parliaments of EU Candidate Countries, in Bucharest
- 2001 visit to Vilnius by Ion Iliescu, the President of Romania in November 2001. President Valdas AdamkusValdas AdamkusValdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next...
conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas on President Ion IliescuIon IliescuIon Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
for "personal services to the development of the relations between Lithuania and Romania and active contribution to the broadening of bilateral co-operation". President Adamkus was awarded the Star of Romania. Iliescu spoke at Vilnius UniversityVilnius UniversityVilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
.
Trade
Bilateral trade is relatively low. Trade for the first 10 months of 2007 was of EUREuro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
55.4 million . That represents an increase of 75.3 percent over a comparable period in 2006. Between January and August 2008, Lithuania's exports to Romania were EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
21.4 million and that represented an 85.7 percent increase from the same period of 2007. Lithuanian direct investments in Romania in 2007 were EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
74 million. Romanian direct investments in Lithuania EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1.2 million. More than 30 Lithuanian companies are actively invested in Romanian economy. Lithuanian companies in Romania include: Europa Group Investment, Hanner, Flynova, Maz Baltic RO, AVC Autoimport and Arvi Agro.
Agreements
The following agreements are in place:- Re-establishment of Diplomatic Relations signed in Vilnius, September 13, 1991
- Economic and Trade Relations, and Co-operation on Science and Technology signed in Bucharest, June 10, 1992
- International Road Transport signed in Vilnius, March 17, 1993
- Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Romania and the Republic of Lithuania signed in Vilnius, March 8, 1994
- Mutual Protection and Promotion of Investment signed in Vilnius, March 8, 1994
- Cultural Co-operation signed in Bucharest, September 19, 1995
- Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation signed in Vilnius, November 26, 2001
- Free Trade signed in Vilnius, November 26, 2001
- Mutual Travels of Citizens signed in Bucharest, February 19, 2004
- Readmission of their Own Citizens and of Aliens signed in Bucharest on February 19, 2004