Our country interested in hosting the European Union Maritime Security Hub

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Ţoiu, participated in the Ministerial Meeting on Security and Trans-Regional Connectivity in the Black Sea Region, organized in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), where she announced Romania's offer to host the European Union Maritime Security Hub.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the meeting was an essential moment for discussing the implementation of the EU Strategic Approach for the Black Sea Region, in a geopolitical context dominated by the effects of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. The event brought together the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, Commissioners Marta Kos and Jozef Sikela, as well as representatives of the Member States, the Eastern Partnership countries and Central Asia. The discussions focused on two major themes: regional security and resilience, and trans-regional connectivity.

• Romania, a promoter of maritime security in the Black Sea

In her intervention, Oana Ţoiu emphasized that the adoption of the Strategic Approach for the Black Sea represents "a strong political message regarding the importance of the region for the European Union”, but also "a concrete commitment of the EU to support the efforts of the Member States and partners for stability, resilience and prosperity”. On this occasion, Romania submitted the official offer to host the European Union Maritime Security Hub, considered one of the flagship projects of the new strategy. The Romanian minister highlighted the country's willingness to collaborate closely with Bulgaria and the other Black Sea littoral states, for an efficient coordination of regional security and cooperation initiatives.

• Connectivity and resilience - European priorities

The Romanian dignitary showed that, beyond the security dimension, connectivity and resilience represent important pillars of the Strategic Approach, with the role of strengthening relations between Europe and Asia, but also of improving crisis preparedness and regional response. "A close cooperation between partners in the South Caucasus and the European Union is essential for capitalizing on the region's potential, especially in the areas of green energy, digitalization and trade,” emphasized Oana Ţoiu, according to the MFA. Romania is already involved in connectivity projects with the states in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, focused on the development of energy and digital infrastructure, with the aim of transforming the Black Sea region into a strategic corridor between Europe and Asia.

In concluding her speech, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Romania's commitment to work "in close cooperation with the Member States of the European Union, with the European institutions and with the regional partners to implement the objectives of the Strategic Approach for the Black Sea". "Romania is ready to actively contribute to the consolidation of security and regional cooperation, through concrete projects that bring added value to the European Union and our partners", declared Oana Ţoiu, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.