The foreign activities of the Romanian Cultural Institute are primarily implemented by its network of Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad. In accordance with Govt. Decision no. 492/2004, with reference to the establishment and operations of Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad, Romanian cultural centres which were already operating abroad at that date, and which were exclusively subordinate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were reorganised as Romanian Cultural Institutes as follows: the Romanian Cultural Institute in Paris, the French Republic; the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, the United States of America; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest, the Republic of Hungary; the "Titu Maiorescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Berlin, the Federal Republic of Germany; the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research in Venice, the Republic of Italy; and the Accademia di Romania in Rome, the Republic of Italy.
On the basis of the same governmental act, a number of other Romanian Cultural Institutes have since been established: the Romanian Cultural Institute in Vienna, the Republic of Austria; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Prague, the Czech Republic; the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Madrid, the Kingdom of Spain; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Lisbon, the Republic of Portugal; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Warsaw, the Republic of Poland; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Stockholm, the Kingdom of Sweden; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv, the State of Israel; the "Dimitrie Cantemir" Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey.
In 2007, a branch of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest was opened in Szeged. The branch operates on terms of reciprocity with that opened in Sfîntu Gheorghe by the Hungarian Cultural Centre in Bucharest. Since 2007, the Romanian Information Centre in Brussels, the Kingdom of Belgium, has operated as part of the network of Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad. It has the status of a Romanian Cultural Institute abroad thanks to its strategic position and importance for Romanian foreign policy objectives.
According to the legislation in vigour, the following new institutes are due to open: the Romanian Cultural Institute in Moscow, the Russian Federation; the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, the People's Republic of China; the "Mihai Eminescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Kishinev, the Republic of Moldova; and the Romanian Cultural Institute in Kiev, the Republic of Ukraine, with a branch in Chernivtsi.
Through the programmes, projects and activities they organise, the Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad disseminate cultural information and contribute to the integration of Romanian cultural values into the European and worldwide circuit. Likewise, the teaching of Romanian as a foreign language, as well as inter-cultural and linguistic studies, represents a priority for the network of Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad.
The specific goals of the Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad focus on the mobility of arts professionals and their works, the achievement of long-term partnerships with leading institutes in local markets (other foreign cultural institutes, universities, associations, and the organisers of festivals and specific cultural events), and cultural co-operation, with a view to the recognition of the institutes as competent partners in European and worldwide cultural markets. Through their programmes, projects and activities, Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad promote subjects of topical interest aimed primarily at active audiences. The Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad are points of cultural information and dialogue.
The Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad conduct their activities in accordance with the accords and treaties the Romanian State has signed with the authorities of the states where they are resident, and in compliance with the relevant norms of international and domestic law. In collaboration with Romanian diplomatic missions and consulates in their countries of residence, the Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad carry out the foreign activities of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Funding of the cultural programmes and projects implemented by the Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad is provided from the budget of the Romanian Cultural Institute within the pertinent legal conditions.
The operating expenses and capital required for the functioning of the Romanian Cultural Institutes abroad is provided by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Romanian Academy appoints the directors of the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research in Venice and the Accademia di Romania in Rome.
Through the National Centre for Scholarships Abroad, the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth also co-ordinates the activity of Vasile Pîrvan Scholarship students at the Accademia di Romania in Rome and Nicolae Iorga Scholarship students at the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research in Venice.
