Reporter: Which is the aim of your meeting with Chancellor Merkel?

PM Victor Ponta: I wanted this meeting to resume the relations between Romania and Germany. The year 2012 brought a break in these relations in the context of the political crisis in Romania. We want a new beginning. Germany is a strategic partner and an important investor. The economic issues will be an important topic. We also want to coordinate ourselves with Berlin regarding our outlook on the future of Europe.

Reporter: There are hot debates in Germany regarding the feared poverty immigration from Romania as well as of Roma. What is your opinion?

PM Victor Ponta: I followed with interest this debate; it takes place in the context of the electoral campaign in Germany. Irrespective of this, independent studies show that the majority of Romanians living there works and pays taxes. There will be no migration flow from Romania to Germany as of January 1, 2014. It is absolutely correct if Berlin wants to toughen legislation for immigrants. We request that this targets all European citizens not only the Romanians.
With respect to Roma, we consider that their integration here, in Romania is a medium and long term solution. So, we mainly approach it differently compared to our predecessors. We should be realist: no integration strategy will have immediate effects. We should change an entire mentality, and this may take years, perhaps even an entire generation.

Reporter: A subject in 2012 crisis was the accusations of plagiarism. Academics still accuse you that you copied 113 pages of your doctoral work. How do you face it out?
PM Victor Ponta: Legally, things were clarified, politically it harmed me. It (nn the scandal) appeared in the great moments of tension between me and Basescu. Every politician has to live with the scars.

Reporter: Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a denunciation as those from whom you copied did not want to press charges. However: Is your dissertation plagiarism?

PM Victor Ponta: No. Politically, there remains a scar. It was just one episode in a political struggle in which Basescu and I lost. Ever since the December 2012 parliamentary elections in that I won, we cooperate.

Reporter: Romania has problems with judicial reform. This prevented so far accession to the Schengen area. Almost nobody in Romania trusts justice.

PM Victor Ponta: People need to understand that justice is justice. One result of cooperation with Basescu is the fact that I appointed a Head of DNA trusted by European partners: Laura Kövesi. I think Brussels will find clear improvements.

Reporter: Your PhD thesis coordinator, former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, continue to benefit from your attention though was convicted of illegal party funding.

PM Victor Ponta: As far as Mr. Nastase is concerned, I am subjective. We were and I am close to him. He was the one who convinced me to go into politics. But my opinion does not play any role here.