WASHINGTON, D.C. -  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Romanian Foreign Ministry signed an agreement today to work together to strengthen rule of law, anti-corruption, agriculture, and energy independence in other European and Eurasian countries.  The agreement will also promote greater U.S.-Romanian development cooperation around democracy, local governance, civil society and media independence, health, education and regional integration with the European Union.

"This agreement highlights our strong commitment to work with key development partners and emerging donors in Europe and Eurasia," said USAID Associate Administrator Eric G. Postel who signed the agreement for USAID along with the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lazăr Comănescu. "We look forward to strengthening development cooperation with the government of Romania. It is our firm belief that by working closely with partners in this region, we can further advance democracy, rule of law, economic growth, energy security, and the region's greater integration with the European Union."

The framework of cooperation outlined in the MOU includes USAID and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs working together at the strategic policy planning and implementation levels, including an annual high-level development dialogue between U.S. and Romanian officials that will increase greater understanding of each other's development policies, help identify shared priorities, and develop prospective lines of bilateral coordination and collaboration.