France to increase military presence in Romania

President Emmanuel Macron has said that France will increase its military presence in Romania and expressed his desire to foster Romania's joining the Schengen area.

Macron made the statement on June 15 at a press conference following talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Force Base in Constanta County (southeast of the country), according to TASS.

"We discussed the proposal for a European political community, which we want to promote and which, along with bilateral cooperation, should structurize our continent and, in general, all states that have a common geography and common values in terms of politics, security, energy, infrastructure," the French president said.

He described Romania as a special country for France since the union between them is based on friendship for two centuries.

Macron said that "at present, at the request of the Romanian authorities, work is underway on an ambitious plan to support the Navy".

"The relevant ministers have negotiated and prepared a framework document, and politically and militarily, we want to strengthen this framework document and this cooperation," he said.

 The Romanian president thanked "for the presence of the French military personnel in the country and for the assumption by France of the duties of the leader of the NATO battle group in Romania, the speedy bringing of which to combat readiness is a top priority".

"We discussed, as a matter of priority, the need to strengthen [NATO's] deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank, especially in the Black Sea, the new alliance strategy, the support of NATO partners, and the prospects for Sweden and Finland to join".

Iohannis "explained Romania's legitimate expectations regarding accession to the Schengen area".

"The expansion of the Schengen area will contribute to strengthening the security and stability of the EU as a whole and strengthening the competitiveness of the single market for the benefit of European citizens," the Romanian head of state said.