The meeting of defence ministers from the countries participating in "Bucharest 9 (B9) Initiative" will take place over 25th- 26th November, at Bucharest.

The two topics of the reunion will be the Impact Decisions for the Eastern Flank of the Alliance and the development of the future NATO Strategic Concept, respectively the NATO-EU cooperation.

The Romanian and Polish defence ministers will make press statements on Thursday, 25th November, starting 19.15.

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Launched in 2015, at Romania's and Poland's initiative, Bucharest 9 (B9) Initiative offers a platform for the enhancement of dialogue and cooperation among the allies of NATO's Eastern Flank - Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Hungary - with a view of establishing each country's contribution to the on-going processes of the Alliance, based on the experience and expertise they have and their common security interests, in agreement with the principles of solidarity and indivisibility of the NATO member states.

The B9 Reunions take place regularly at the level of the chiefs of states, foreign affairs ministers as well as defence ministers, offering the opportunity to harmonize the national positions of the B9 Initiative member states on the subjects listed on the agenda of the NATO Summits and Reunions .

The B9 Initiative Reunion in the format of the chiefs of states adn governments took place at Bucharest, on May 10th 2021, and was co-chaired by Presidents s Klaus Iohannis and Andrzej Duda, with the participation of the President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden, and NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. This reunion preceded the 14 June 2021 NATO Summit, where the officials restated the unity, solidarity and cohesion of the Allies as well as the opening of a new chapter of trans-Atlantic relations, in the context of an ever more complex security environment.

IN ATTN of the mass-media representatives:

• The mass-media representatives will be expected on Thursday, 25th November, between 18.45 and 19.00, at the main entrance of a JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel (13th September Avenue no. 90, sector 5). The live broadcastings will only be made with portable devices.

• The access of the mass-media representatives will be made based on their Identity Card, the press badge and the EU digital COVID-19 certificate, according to the regulations in force.

The Press Office