The German-Romanian Treaty on Friendly Cooperation of 1992 remains the basis for the good and close bilateral relations between Germany and Romania. Germany is regarded as Romania’s most important foreign policy partner, together with the United States. As a gesture of appreciation, the Romanian Parliament has designated 21 April as a day to celebrate the friendship between Romania and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The German minority, which is held in high regard in the country, plays an important bridge-building role; it is the fourth-largest ethnic minority in Romania (2022 census: approx. 22,900 people) and is represented by the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania. There is a high demand for lessons in German in Romanian schools, also among those who do not belong to the German minority. German language lessons are supported by the Central Agency for Schools Abroad and the Schools: Partners for the Future (PASCH) network, which comprises 65 partner schools. The German School in Bucharest was awarded the “Excellent German School Abroad” seal of quality in October 2021. German-language study programmes at Romanian universities are popular. Approximately 60 such courses are available.

Bilateral economic relations have developed very positively since Romania joined the EU. Germany is Romania’s most important trading partner, with a volume of trade of more than 42 billion euro in 2024, and its largest foreign direct investor (focus on the automotive supply industry and retail sector). Around 10,000 German companies are active in Romania, providing approximately 250,000 direct jobs. The German business community is represented by the German-Romanian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, a Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) correspondent’s office and regional German business associations.

Romania’s cultural scene is very diverse and has a close affinity with German culture. The German minority, but also the approximately 900,000 Romanians living in Germany, are the crucial pillars supporting this close exchange. German intermediary organisations include the Goethe-Institut, ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, as well as the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, which run various programmes and play an active role in the country.