The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - to fulfill the requirements for EU accession, scheduled to take place in 2007 or 2008. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004.
Geography of Romania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria
and
Ukraine
Coordinates:
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Area:
total: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km
Area comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and
fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin
is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian
Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian
Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0
m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from
Turkey
;
independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom
proclaimed 26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday:
Unification Day (of
Romania
and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Legal system:
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal
theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth
Republic
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the Parliament
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate
or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber
of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by direct,
popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year
terms)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges
appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the
Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of
justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives
appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their
peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and
makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties,
ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine
members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the
president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies
Economy
Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely
obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's
needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession
thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in
2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and
consumption have kept GDP growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed
in 2001, has been accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization,
deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved
Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time
Romania has successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989
revolution. In July 2004, the executive board of the IMF approved a 24-month
standby agreement for $367 million. IMF concerns about Romania's tax policy
and budget deficit led to a breakdown of this agreement in 2005. In the past,
the IMF has criticized the government's fiscal, wage, and monetary policies.
Meanwhile, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of
a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and
red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government
confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency
revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new"
leu.
textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto
assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals,
food processing, petroleum refining
