French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier on Friday cautioned Romania against following the United States too closely, urging it to develop a "European reflex" since it wants to join the European Union (EU).

"When one is in the European Union, the first reflex should be European. It is in the interest of Romania to have this reflex," Barnier told a joint news conference in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart Mihai Razvan Ungureanu.

He reiterated his country's support for Romania's EU membership.

It is good for Romania to maintain good relations with the United States, he said, noting that France is even an older ally of Washington. However, he added: "Alliance does not mean allegiance."

Barnier said his country has "some difficulty" to understand a "Bucharest-Washington-London axis" suggested by Romanian President Traian Basescu in his inaugural speech in December.

"I understand that it is legitimate for Romania to demonstrate its friendship with the United States and the United Kingdom," he conceded.

Barnier, who was in Romania for a one-day visit, refused to comment on US plan to set up a military base in the country.

Source: Xinhua