Since 2005, the relations between Romania and France have been slowly but surely deteriorating. The absence of a constructive dialog between presidents Băsescu and Sarkozy, as shown by the notorious images from the NATO summit of November 2010, when the French president angrily cut short an attempt by president Băsescu to talk to him.

There are some events, starting with the expulsion of the Rroma from France and the much-discussed contract with EADS, which could serve as the backdrop for what"s been happening lately in the Romanian customs. The chronology of the events is interesting as well, with each French action being followed by a reply on the same level by Bucharest.

The expulsion of the Rroma

Even though it didn"t go unnoticed, the "major firebug" case (some time ago, president Băsescu stated that it was better for Romania to bow before to the Big Firebug - the USA - than to the smaller firebugs - EU member countries), had less of a contribution to the excessive strain on the relations between the two countries, but the expulsion of the Rroma from France was the fuel poured on a fire that was smoldering.

France"s decision to expel the Rromas back to Bulgaria and Romania, caused heated debates in Europe. In September 2010, the European Commission threatened France with the opening of an infringement procedure, to sanction it for the expulsion, accusing the French authorities of duplicity and comparing its actions to the Holocaust. In the summit of the European Union of September 2010, the two presidents discussed the issue, and after Traian Băsescu asked for the rights of the Rroma as European citizens to be respected, a very harsh exchange took place between Nicholas Sarkozy and Jose Manuel Baroso, the chairman of the European Commission.

The Cernavodă plant

Another touchy factor in the relationship between the two states