BUCHAREST – Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe on Monday supported the trend that is occurring in Romania, a country which Spain considers a “strategic partner” in a Europe that is ever “more prosperous, fair and mutually supportive.”

The prince made his remarks during an official dinner hosted by Romanian President Traian Basescu during the three-day visit by Felipe and his wife, Princess Letizia.

Bucharest can learn from Spain’s experience with managing European Union funding extended to the bloc’s less affluent member-states, the prince said.

“The Spanish experience in managing and utilization of structural ... funds, as well as the large number of firms from our country with experience in that area, can be of great interest and usefulness to Romania,” said Felipe after emphasizing the support from Spanish business for investment in the Balkan nation despite the international economic crisis.

Around 80 Spanish business executives are accompanying the royal couple on the trip to Romania.

The prince emphasized bilateral links and particularly made note of “the deep human and professional relationships that around a million Romanian residents in Spain have woven with Spaniards, fostering their integration into our society.”

For his part, Basescu thanked Spain for its support of Romania during the post-communist transition and added that the Spanish development model after joining the EU, the use of community funds and the extension of internal infrastructure represent for his country “an example to follow.”

Romania, with a population of about 22 million, is immersed in a process of modernization, especially of its infrastructure, which is being undertaken in part with structural funds from the EU.

Romanians are currently, after Moroccans, the second largest immigrant population in Spain. EFE