Eastern Europe.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

238,391 sq km (92,043 sq miles).

22.2 million (UN, 2005).

90.9 per sq km.

Bucharest. Population: 2 million (2005).

Romania is bordered to the north and east by Moldova and Ukraine, the southeast by the Black Sea, the south by Bulgaria, the southwest by Serbia and Montenegro and in the west by Hungary. The country is divided into four geographical areas. Transylvania (a belt of Alpine massifs and forests) and Moldavia compose the northern half of the country, which is divided down the middle by the north–south strip of the Carpathian Mountains. South of the east–west line of the Carpathians lies the flat Danube plain of Walachia with the capital Bucharest, its border with Bulgaria being defined by the course of the Danube. Romania’s coastline is along the Black Sea, incorporating the port of Constanta and the Danube Delta.

Under the provisions of the constitution adopted in December 1991, the legislature is a bicameral National Assembly, directly elected every four years, comprising the Assembly of Deputies (387 seats) and the Senate (119 seats). Executive power is vested in a government subordinate to the President, who is elected every four years and is limited to a maximum of two terms in office.

Democratic Republic since 1991. Head of State: President Traian Basescu since December 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu. Recent history: Traian Basescu won the second round of Romania's Presidential election in mid-December 2004, defeating incumbent Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of the leftist Social Democratic party. Calin Tariceanu became Prime Minister following Parliamentary elections in November 2004. His government is an alliance of Liberals and Democrats and has members from four reformist parties. Both men have said that their main objectives will be to focus on the acceleration of reforms aimed at ensuring EU membership for Romania in 2007 and to fight poverty and corruption.

Romanian is the official language. Some Hungarian and German are spoken in border areas, while mainly French and some English are spoken by those connected with the tourist industry.

86 per cent Romanian Orthodox, with Greek and Roman Catholic, Reformed/Lutheran, Unitarian, Muslim and Jewish minorities.

Handshaking is the most common form of greeting, but it is customary for men to kiss a woman’s hand when being introduced. Mr or Mrs should be used when greeting someone for the first time. Visitors should follow normal European courtesies on social occasions. Dress tends to be rather conservative but casual wear is suitable. Beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. If visiting a home, a small gift should be given to the host, such as flower or chocolates (to women only), wine or liquor. Flowers should be given as a gift in odd numbers only. Many Romanians are smokers and gifts of Western cigarettes are greatly appreciated. Other well-appreciated gifts include toiletries and Western clothing. Photography: Military installations should not be photographed. Some tourist attractions require visitors to pay a fee of approximately Lei2000 for taking photographs. Smoking: The Romanian Government has recently approved legislation that bans smoking in every public place, but, as in many countries in Eastern Europe smokers have little respect for non-smokers and for smoking laws. Smoking is prohibited in all public places including hospitals, concert halls and theatres. Smoking is also forbidden on planes, on buses and one some trains. Luxury hotels have designated no-smoking floors but very few restaurants have no-smoking sections.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type.