Key engagement

Bilateral engagement. People-to-people links. International food, climate change and security challenges.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1968, marking 55 years of bilateral relations in 2023.

The relationship between Australia and Romania is built on community ties and a like-minded approach to a range of global issues, including international security, cyber, disarmament, non-proliferation and international criminal law. Australia and Romania are both committed to international peace and security, including through our respective contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. Romania has been representing Australia's consular interests in Syria since 2013.

Our people-to-people ties are reinforced by the 15,268 people born in Romania in Australia and 28,103 Australian residents of Romanian descent, as of the 2021 Australian census.

Foreign policy

Romania's foreign policy is predominantly focused on relations with its neighbours and within the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Romania last held the EU presidency in the first half of 2019. Romania will partially enter the Schengen zone in March 2024.

Romania is providing multifaceted assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.  It continues to be a major corridor for Ukrainian grain and a critical link in the global food security chain.

Fast facts

Romanian visitors to Australia (year ending June 2023)

3,993

Resident Australian population born in Romania (2021 census)

15,268

Australian residents of Romanian descent (2021 census)

28,103

High level engagement

• June 2023: Deputy Foreign Minister, Traian Hristea, visited Australia.  He met Assistant Minister to Foreign Affairs, The Hon Tim Watts MP, and a number of Members of Parliament – including members of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
• October 2018: An Australian Parliamentary Delegation led by then Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald visited Romania and met with then Prime Minister HE Viorica Dăncilă and then Foreign Minister HE Teodor‑Viorel Meleşcanu.
• March 2013: Then State Secretary for Global Affairs, Ovidiu Dranga, visited Australia and met with then Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Richard Marles MP.

Agreements with Romania

• 2012: Air Services Agreement
• 2001: Double Taxation Agreement
• 1997: Trade and Economic Agreement
• 1994: Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement

Political overview

The Romanian Parliament comprises two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies (330 seats); and the Senate (136 seats). Members of Parliament serve four-year terms. The President appoints the Prime Minister based on parliamentary elections. The Constitution gives Parliament a central place in the system of state authorities. It has power in exceptional circumstances to dismiss or suspend the president.

Under Romania's presidential political system, an executive president is elected directly for a maximum of two five-year terms and is the head of state. While in office, the president must renounce all party positions and affiliations. The president is the commander of the armed forces, represents the state in foreign relations and may take part in government meetings to discuss issues of national interest.

Romania will conduct its next parliamentary and presidential elections in 2024.

Public diplomacy

The Australian Embassy in Athens raises awareness of Australia's culture and values in Romania, advocates for global trade liberalisation, and promotes Australia as a contemporary, creative, successful, diverse and tolerant nation and an innovative and attractive trade and investment partner.

The Australian Embassy in Athens is responsible for Romania

Australia has a Consulate in Bucharest, headed by an Honorary Consul.

• Facebook: Australia in Greece
• Twitter: @AusAmbAthens

Economic diplomacy

In 2022, Australia's two-way goods and services trade with Romania was valued at $378.3 million, dominated by goods and services imports from Romania to Australia, valued at $345 million. Australian goods and services exports to Romania for the same period were valued at $33.3 million.

Major Australian goods imports from Romania included passenger motor vehicles; telecommunication equipment and parts; household type equipment; rubber tyres, treads and tubes; veneers, plywood and particle board; and mechanical handling equipment and parts.

Major Australian goods exports to Romania included telecommunication equipment and parts; paper and paperboard and education-related travel.

Since 2020, Macquarie has been active in Romania's energy sector having acquired the assets of the CEZ Group.

Australia's new Antarctic research icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina, was built in Romania.

More economic and trade information [PDF]

Australia continues to seek opportunities to promote Australian business and raise awareness of potential benefits of increased trade between Australia and Romania. This work has intensified following the launch of Australia-EU FTA negotiations in June 2018.

More information about the Australia-EU FTA

Business

Australia's trade and investment priorities include attracting Romanian investment to Australia, including in Australia's IT and new technologies sectors.

The construction in Romania of Australia's icebreaker RSV Nuyina exemplifies the potential for further business engagement. Romania's energy, mining, IT, agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors present opportunities for Australian businesses.

Austrade's Prague Office is responsible for Romania, and assesses potential trade and investment opportunities in Romania.

Travel

Smartraveller information on travelling to Romania