Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers

Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruță, participated on August 31 and September 1 in the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers, which took place in Wicklow, Ireland.

The talks agenda included current topics regarding EU support for Ukraine, the role of outer space in security and defence, developments in the Middle East, as well as maritime security.

During the session dedicated to Ukraine, defence ministers analyzed the latest developments concerning European Union support and the enhancement of EU-Ukraine industrial cooperation. The discussions also addressed lessons learned from the implementation process of the Ukraine Support Loan at military level, as well as the mobilization of the European Peace Facility Instrument.

In the context of the European Union's contribution to the security guarantees provided to Ukraine, European officials had an exchange of views regarding the future of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine – EUMAM Ukraine. At the same time, the development perspectives of security guarantees in a post-conflict stage were addressed.

Another important topic of the meeting was the role of outer space in security. Thus, defence ministers assessed the implementation status of the European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence and analyzed the necessary measures for the EU to maintain its status as a relevant global actor in the space domain. The discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring the permanent availability of space tools and capabilities required to support European security and defence, including in crisis situations. In this regard, the increasingly vital role of space as a strategic enabler for defense planning and development was emphasized.

During the current affairs session, defence ministers analyzed the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf (Strait of Hormuz) and its implications for European security, including from the perspective of synchronizing EU naval operations (Aspides and Atalanta) with international community efforts to stabilize the region. A distinct topic was the assessment of the opportunity for new operational commitments undertaken under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in Lebanon.

Furthermore, European officials discussed maritime security and ways in which EU actions can contribute to protecting critical maritime infrastructure.

The exchange of views stressed the need to enhance cooperation and response capacity at European level against threats that could affect freedom of navigation, the security of maritime routes, and the resilience of strategic infrastructure.

Minister Miruță emphasized the need for increased vigilance on this matter and presented the recent situation in Romania's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, as well as the measures taken, noting that the topic will be further detailed in tomorrow's foreign affairs ministers’ meeting.

The Press Office