Defence Minister’s participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting (Defence)

Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dîncu, participated in EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting (Defence) on Monday, March 21, at Brussels. The meeting agenda comprised two major topics: the Strategic Compass and the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.

EU’s Strategic Compass was endorsed during a joint session of the EU Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers. This paper will be assumed at the highest level by the chiefs of states and governments within the European Council Reunion scheduled to take place over 24-25 March.

The Romanian Defence Minister emphasized the importance of the paper in the development of an EU consolidated profile in the international arena, especially in the current context, when the unprovoked and unjustified Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the democratic system of values and Euro-Atlantic security architecture.

The development and consolidation of an ambitious strategic partnership between EU and NATO, as well as maintaining the trans-Atlantic bond when approaching global challenges, were topics of major importance in the Brussels meeting. “EU’s coordination and cooperation with NATO are essential and of major importance for the implementation of the Strategic Compass provisions“, minister Vasile Dîncu mentioned in his allocution.

The Romanian official pointed out that military mobility is one of the most stringent requirements emphasized by the Ukraine war. “We must act in order to consolidate the dual-use transportation infrastructure within the trans-European transportation network. The additional financial support of the committee at this level is essential”, minister Dîncu stated.

At the same time, Vasile Dîncu emphasized the importance of the capability development projects, which are considered strategic facilitators that must have an adequate inclusivity level.

During a working dinner, the defence ministers approached the latest developments of the security situation from Ukraine generated by the Russian Federation’s attack, as well as the support measures taken in support Ukraine at EU level.

“We condemn the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. We appreciate EU’s efforts, made inclusively through the European Peace Facility in order to support this partner and the tight coordination at trans-Atlantic level”, the Romanian official added.

Also, he highlighted the importance of the Eastern Neighborhood and Black Sea in the European security architecture and pointed out the need to allocate adequate resources to efficiently manage the consequences generated by the Russian Federation’s aggression. This effort must pay particular attention to the humanitarian crisis and the increase of partners’ resilience, especially the Republic of Moldova’s and Georgia’s resilience.

In this respect, minister Vasile Dîncu mentioned Romania’s contribution by emphasizing the importance of the logistic hub from Suceava in offering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and taking necessary measures at national level in order to receive the refugees.

The defence ministers’ video statement can be unloaded at the following link : https://we.tl/t-qecto2yqRd.

The Press Office