Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar, participated, over August 29-30, in the Informal Meeting of the EU Defence Ministers, which took place in Toledo, Spain, the country that holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The debates mainly focused on EU's contribution to security commitments to Ukraine, as well as on the regional and global implications of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, presented, the recent developments in the field, via video conference.

The interventions of the defence ministers emphasized the importance of continuing providing the current support offered to Ukraine, the officials also addressing the new initiatives regarding the joint procurement in the field of defence and the increase of the industrial capacities of the member states.

At the same time, the negative implications at regional and global levels of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine were analyzed. This discussion was attended by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, Angus Lampsey, and UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The key importance of the cooperation between the EU, NATO and the UN, both in support of Ukraine and in support of other partners in the region, as well as in ensuring the transit of Ukrainian grain to the most vulnerable states, was also emphasized.

'I have restated Romania's firm support of Ukraine as long as it will be necessary. I also reminded my counterparts of the recent decision to establish a F-16 Pilot Training Center in Romania, a facility that will also be open to the Allied and partner states, including Ukraine. I also emphasized the importance of a broader strategic vision, which would include support to the most vulnerable partners in the Black Sea region, by emphasizing the situation of the Republic of Moldova. Last but not least, I highlighted Romania's role in the support provided to the grain transit from Ukraine and I emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination among all the actors involved in these efforts', Minister Angel Tilvar stated.

Defence Ministers also discussed EU's military missions and operations conducted in the Western Balkans and Africa, as well as the status of rendering operational the EU's rapid deployment capability. The Romanian Minister of Defence emphasized Romania's participation in the missions and operations carried out under the aegis of the Common Security and Defence Policy, by highlighting our country's significant contribution to EUFOR Althea Operation from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ministrul Tilvar a exprimat sprijinul ferm al Romaniei pentru eforturile privind modernizarea Centrului si cresterea capacitatii de a livra produse si servicii satelitare, evidentiind ca EU SatCen este un instrument valoros in cadrul PSAC. As part of the meeting in Spain, the second meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU Satellite Center (EU SatCen) took place in the defence ministers format. The activity was an opportunity to debate on the progresses made in the Center's transformation process, with the defence ministers offering political guidelines on the continuation of this approach in the current security context. Minister Tilvar expressed Romania's firm support of the modernization efforts of the Center and of increasing the capacity of delivering satellite products and services, by highlighting that EU SatCen is a valuable tool within the Comon Defence and Security Policy.

'I particularly appreciate the professionalism of the entire team, as well as the dedication of the Center's Director, Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, who has coordinated the SatCen modernization process over the recent years. Romania will continue to firmly support these efforts and I trust that the good pace so far will be maintained', Minister Angel Tilvar said.

The Press Office