Romania
Romania, a slower developer than other former communist countries of eastern Europe, took a major step away from its past when it was one of seven countries to join Nato in March 2004. Its strategic location and Black Sea air and naval bases make it attractive to the alliance.
Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a communist Peoples Republic in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of President Nicolae Ceausescu became increasingly draconian through the 1980s. He was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when a centrist government came to power. It became involved in prolonged political feuding which did little or nothing to promote economic reform. The left returned in 2000 when Ion Iliescu was re-elected president. Traian Basescu, the popular centrist mayor of Bucharest, topped the poll in the second round of Romania's presidential election in mid-December 2004, defeating incumbent Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of the leftist Social Democratic party. The victory came as a surprise to many.
Calin Tariceanu became prime minister following parliamentary elections in November 2004. His government is an alliance of Liberals and Democrats and has members from four reformist parties. His government has won praise from EU officials for its efforts to tackle the problem. Numerous criminal investigations have been launched into the activities of senior officials and members of the judiciary.
Since the end of communism in 1989 the Romanian economy has been in transition to a market economy. This process has not been smooth, and has included two periods of economic recession and financial scandals during the 1990s. Limited economic changes took place, such as the devaluation of its currency, the removal of some subsidies and price controls, and the conversion of some state-owned companies to private ownership. The slow pace of Romanian reform has been due to several factors, including loss-making state-owned enterprises, strong labor unions and bureaucracy. Since 2000 the government has put in place a program of privatizing state-owned enterprises and restructuring of its energy, mining and industrial sector.
In April 2005 Bucharest signed the EU accession treaty, and Romania officially joined the EU in January 2007. Romania must report to the EU every six months on progress in reforms to curb corruption and streamline their judiciaries — or risk losing a chunk of economic aid.
There have been several complex exchanges of territory over the years, not least when the area formerly known as Bessarabia went to the USSR following a pact between Hitler and Stalin. That region now forms a large part of the Republic of Moldova, but still has a strong Romanian identity.
Crime is the main security concern, along with corruption.
It is illegal to change money on the streets. Money should be changed in recognised exchange shops, banks and hotels.
Most airports and military bases will have signs prohibiting photography. It is always advisable to ask permission before photographing anything potentially sensitive (e.g., official buildings, police cars).
