EU Defence Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting

On Monday, 28th February, Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dîncu, participated in the EU Defence Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting in videoconference format.

The main topic of discussion was the situation from Ukraine, following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable attack against an independent and sovereign state, an unprecedented challenge to the European security architecture. The Defence Ministers debated on the urgent needs with a view of coordinating the assistance offered by the European member states to Ukraine.

Concerning Romania’s support to Ukraine, the defence minister emphasized the government decision regarding the donation of ammunition, fuel, military protection equipment, food, water and sanitary material, which add up to the previous contributions following Ukraine’s request made through the European Civilian Protection Mechanism. Also, the defence minister mentioned the decision which aims at providing medical treatment to the injured Ukrainian soldiers in the military and civilian Romanian hospitals, as well as the blood donation campaign initiated in their support. At the same time, the Romanian official appreciated the mobilization of civilian society in support of the Ukrainian refugees.

Minister Dîncu saluted the European unity and solidarity, especially the recent decisions adopted at the EU level with a view of supporting Ukraine through the European Peace Facility instrument, thus, expressing the availability of contributing to the implementation of these measures, at logistic level.

At the same time, the official pointed out the need to support the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, with a view of consolidating their own resilience.

Also, minister Dîncu saluted the activation of EUFOR Althea Intermediate Reserve in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to which Romania contributes with an infantry company. In this respect, the official emphasized the importance of deterring any action which tries to destabilize the security situation at European level.

The Romanian Minister of National Defence pointed out the change of the paradigm we are currently living, which needs a reassessment and recalibration of EU’s external action that equals the increased resilience to the cybernetic and hybrid attacks.

The Press Office