Romania, European Commission discuss Black Sea Maritime Security Hub

Romanian Minister of National Defence Ștefan-Radu Oprea met with Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, at the ministry's headquarters.

The agenda included discussions on strengthening Europe's defence capabilities, the operationalisation and development of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, the development of European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI) involving Romania, and the implementation of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, CE Report informs via the Ministry of National Defence of Romania's official website.

Regarding the gradual operationalisation of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, an initiative included in the European Union's (EU) strategic approach, the role of the Ministry of National Defence in supporting the project's development was also highlighted. This support will involve specialised expertise and inter-institutional cooperation, while respecting the mechanism's civilian nature and ensuring complementarity with relevant NATO structures and initiatives aimed at Black Sea security.

In this context, the importance of developing a regional cooperation mechanism was also emphasised. Such a mechanism would contribute to improving maritime situational awareness, facilitating information exchange and strengthening the protection of critical maritime infrastructure amid current security challenges.

Regarding Romania's participation in the five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI), Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea stressed that they cover areas of priority for Romania, including air defence, drones and counter-drone systems, maritime security, surveillance, space and the protection of NATO's Eastern Flank. He noted that Romania's inclusion in these projects represents a concrete form of participation in shaping European cooperation.

The Minister of National Defence also stressed the need for the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 to provide adequate resources for strengthening the security and defence capabilities of countries on the Eastern Flank, particularly those in the Black Sea region.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu encouraged Romania to make use of EU funding allocated to defence and security. She also expressed her conviction that Romania has both the willingness and the opportunity to participate in European decision-making processes concerning the Black Sea region.

The meeting also addressed the importance of aligning investments made through SAFE with Romania's operational requirements and defence preparedness objectives, while ensuring complementarity with NATO efforts. Discussions also covered the steps required to access additional funding resulting from the redistribution of amounts unused during the programme's first phase, as well as continued access to funding under SAFE 2.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of relations between Romania and the European Commission in making effective use of European defence instruments and strengthening security and resilience along the European Union's Eastern Flank.

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