Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor, was received on Tuesday at Cotroceni Palace by President Nicusor Dan. Their discussions focused on the international political and security context, European Union solidarity, and the need for European states to assume greater responsibility within NATO.

'I was delighted to host Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, at Cotroceni Palace today. We had a very good discussion regarding the global political and security landscape. It was very interesting to hear Ms. Merkel's views, grounded in her vast political experience. We focused on the constructive role that a more united European Union can play in international politics, as well as on what Romania and Germany can do together to foster greater European cohesion and a stronger defense posture, with Europeans assuming greater responsibility within NATO,' the Head of State wrote on the X platform.

Later today, Merkel will launch her book *Freedom: Memories 1954-2021* in Bucharest.

According to a statement from Litera Publishing House, the event will take place at the Romanian Athenaeum at 7:00 PM, featuring a public dialogue between the former German Chancellor and journalist and diplomat Emil Hurezeanu, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Each ticket granting access to this dialogue also includes a copy of the book *Freedom: Memories 1954-2021*.

The public could also choose the ticket category that includes a copy of the book signed by Angela Merkel, available in limited numbers.

According to Litera Publishing House, the volume offers a unique perspective on the 'intricacies of power' and is 'a firm plea for freedom.'

'In her memoirs, written together with her long-time political advisor Beate Baumann, Mrs. Merkel looks back on a life divided equally between two states and two worlds: 35 years in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and 35 years in reunified Germany. With great candor, Angela Merkel recounts her childhood, youth, and studies in the GDR and speaks of the dramatic events of 1989—marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall—as well as the beginnings of her political career. She then offers us a glimpse into the meetings and discussions she held with the world's most influential leaders. Against the backdrop of pivotal moments in national, European, and international history, she reveals with clarity and precision how the decisions that shaped the present we live in were made,' the publisher stated.

The volume *Freedom: Memories 1954-2021* was launched internationally in 2024 in over 30 countries, and Bucharest is among the few destinations worldwide that Angela Merkel chose to visit in person, alongside key capitals such as Berlin, Washington, Budapest, and Athens. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)

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