British–Romanian relations are bilateral foreign relations between United Kingdom and Romania. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 February 1880 when the United Kingdom recognized Romania's independence. Both countries are members of NATO. The United Kingdom has an embassy in Bucharest and Romania has an embassy in London. Romania also has two consulates general in Edinburgh and Manchester. Romania also has five honorary consulates based in Leeds, Newcastle, Inverness, Liverpool and Bristol. Romania has a cultural institute in London. The United Kingdom gave full support to Romania's applications for membership in the European Union and NATO.
 | |
 United Kingdom |
 Romania |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| British Embassy, Bucharest | Embassy of Romania in London |
| Envoy | |
| Giles Portman | Dan Mihalache |
History
edit
In 1588, Petru Șchiopul, the Prince of Moldavia, concluded a trade treaty with Elizabeth I of England. Through the treaty, English merchants were allowed to conduct free trade in the country while paying only a 3% customs tax on the value of goods, as opposed to the 12% tax imposed on other merchants.[1][2]
At the Congress of Berlin 1877 to 1878, Great Britain worked to assist Romania's goal of breaking away from the Ottoman Empire. The British and Russian delegations negotiated a deal whereby Romania obtained its independence, with conditions. While Britain was unable to gain all that it wanted, it did manage to prevent Russian expansion into the Mediterranean. The result was good relations between Britain and Romania, with diplomatic relations starting on 20 February 1880 after the British recognized Romania's independence.[3][4]
Princess Marie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and of Edinburgh, a British Princess as granddaughter of Queen Victoria I of the United Kingdom, married Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania, the couple later became King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie.
In recent years relations between Britain and Romania have soured due to what some hold to be xenophobic reports in the British press.[5]
In June 2023, King Charles III visited Bucharest in a first visit by any reigning British monarch to the country.
Economic relations
editTrade between the United Kingdom and Romania is governed by the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement since 1 January 2021.[6][7]
Companies
editRoyal Bank of Scotland operated in Romania between 15 October 2008 and 31 December 2015.[8]
The Romanian subsidiary of the British company Vodafone is the second largest mobile network operator in the country.
One of the best known Romanian brands in the United Kingdom is Dacia. It has a wide spread network of dealers throughout the country.[9]
Resident diplomatic missions
edit- Romania has an embassy in London and an consulates-general in Edinburgh and Manchester.
- the United Kingdom has an embassy in Bucharest.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Privilegii ale negustorilor englezi după înţelegerea dintre Regina Elisabeta și Petru Șchiopul". Adevărul (in Romanian). 23 October 2015.
- ^ Ion Ionașcu (1971). Relațiile internaționale ale României în documente: (1368-1900) (in Romanian). Editura Politică. p. 174. OCLC 55458084.
- ^ "Regatul Unit al Marii Britanii şi Irlandei de Nord | Relații bilaterale". viena.mae.ro (in Romanian).
- ^ Vasile Cristian, "Romanian-English Relations during the Congress of Berlin," Anuarul Institutului de Istorie si Arheologie 'A.D. Xenopol' (1983) Supplement 4, Vol. 20, pp 63-69.
- ^ "New Rules for Workers From Europe's East Prompt Xenophobia in the West". 6 January 2014.
- ^ "UK and EU agree Brexit trade deal". GOV.UK. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Brexit: Landmark UK-EU trade deal to be signed". BBC News. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "ABN AMRO Romania se rebranduieste in RBS Bank".
- ^ "Find a Dealer - Dacia Cars - Dacia UK".