He headed a delegation of German business leaders who had a meeting with Romanian prime minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday. Other participants in the meeting included Jens Siebrecht, senior vicepresident for Central and Eastern Europe of EADS International, Michael Wiedmann, vicepresident of Metro and Siegfried Wolf, former head of Magna International group and currently chairman of Russian Machines (GAZ), and Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac.
Mangold, who also visited Bucharest in communist times, says he has not come to impart advice because he doesn’t like to interfere with politics. But he says it is in Romania’s interest to restore relations with the EU, and that it is good for the country to have excellent relations with the European Commission both on account of the absorption of EU funds, and in connection to joining the Schengen area.
A member in the boards of several German giants, Mangold reaffirms the commitment of most companies already present on the Romanian market, says there are plans for business expansion and chances of attracting new investments.
He believes Romania is doing well economically compared with other European countries, considering that it managed to grow.
Mangold says what is expected from Romania is for political instability to be put behind as soon as possible. “I don’t think we should be very worried about that,” he adds.
Companies in the German and European industry as a whole don’t have direct access to those who have a say in the expansion of the Schengen area, but they definitely want to see Romania become a member of the borderless area and are bringing this up every time they can, Mangold says.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)