AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: Spain is supporting Romania's accession to the Schengen Area because it deserves it, given the actual efforts of the Romanian state officials, Spain's King Felipe VI told an official lunch extended in the honour of Romania's President Klaus Iohannis.
"Romania has always had in Spain a staunch ally in its European and pro-Atlantic aspirations. Now, when both countries are fully integrated with the European family, our aspirations have to go to the firm defence of quite many interests we are sharing together. As you know well, Spain is supporting Romania's accession to the Schengen Area. That is what it deserves for the consistent and sustained efforts deployed to this end by the Romanian officials from Romania's position as an external border of the EU," added Felipe VI.
He also mentioned intense relations between Spain and Romania. "There is a kinship between our languages and cultures which roots go back in time to Trajan, the first among Roman emperors to be born in Hispania and a fundamental reference for the Romanian identity," added the Spanish king.
He said Spain's Romanians bring an important contribution to the dynamics of the Spanish economy.
The Spanish King also said 135 years of official bilateral ties between Spain and Romania will be celebrated in 2016, adding that the ties have a promising future. "I am also convinced that your first visit to Spain provides us an opportunity to progress with strengthening the ties that correspond to the mutual affection between our nations and the aspirations of our citizens," he said.
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