Austria Reaffirms Strong Support for Romania’s OECD Bid in High-Level Talks
Vienna, The Gulf Observer: Austria has reaffirmed its full support for Romania’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) during a meeting held on December 4 between Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.
During a joint press conference, Chancellor Stocker described Prime Minister Bolojan’s visit as a symbol of the “friendship and reliability” that defines relations between the two nations. He highlighted Austria’s position as Romania’s second-largest foreign investor, with more than 1,300 Austrian companies currently operating in Romania and actively reinvesting their profits.
Stocker also commended the Romanian community living in Austria for its positive contribution to the country’s economic and social spheres, calling it an essential bridge that further strengthens bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Bolojan said the talks had provided “new momentum” to political and economic cooperation. He underscored Austria’s important role in Romania’s economy, noting that Austrian-owned companies support over 100,000 jobs and that bilateral trade reached nearly €6 billion last year.
While acknowledging that investment and trade between the two countries have grown by more than 60% over the past decade, Bolojan emphasized that significant untapped potential remains. He highlighted the energy sector as a key area where Romanian–Austrian collaboration could advance regional market integration, enhance affordability, and bolster long-term energy security.
The discussions also covered opportunities for deeper cooperation in education, research, vocational training, and innovation. Both leaders expressed readiness to explore joint involvement in Ukraine’s future reconstruction through the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, while also aligning positions on European security, migration management, and EU enlargement policy.
Prime Minister Bolojan extended an invitation to Chancellor Stocker to visit Bucharest in 2026, expressing confidence that the two countries will continue building on their longstanding partnership.
