The Minister of National Defence, Gabriel Les, had a meeting with General Mikhail Kostarakos, the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), at the defence ministry, on Thursday, March 2, during the latter's visit in Romania, at the invitation of General Nicolae Ciuca, the chief of General Staff.

The talks focused on the Implementation Plan of the EU Global Strategy on defence and security, especially the current issues high on the EU agenda Permanent Structured Cooperation, the permanent command and planning structure, the coordinated annual review of the defence.

Minister Gabriel Les presented the defence priorities of the government and stressed the importance, in the complex current security environment and the existing threats in the region, of the modernization of the defence capabilities both in national context and through multinational mechanisms made available by the EU and NATO.

The defence minister pointed out the necessity that the EU should enhance its role as a security provider and expressed Romania's political and operational support for this ambitious endevour of the Union. This should be achieved through a realistic implementation of the defence priorities identified in the Strategy, in agreement with the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of November 2016 and of the European Council of December last year on defence and security.

On the same day, the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee met with the chief of General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca, to discuss topics related to the Common Security and Defence Policy and the way nations participate in the projects under way at the level of EU.

On Friday, March 3, at 12.00 hrs., generals Ciuca and Kostarakos will make press statements at the Palace of the National Military Club.

Journalists wishing to participate in the activity are expected at the Cinema Hall of the Palace of the National Military Club (Constantin Mille Street) between 11.30 and 11.45hrs.

Person of contact: Cpt. Gabriel Ion, GSM : 0747.989.754.

Press Department