Defence Minister’s meeting with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space

Defence Minister's meeting with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space

Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruță, had a meeting with Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, on Wednesday, February 11th, in Brussels.

The talks took place in the context of the recent developments at the European Union level with regard to strengthening the defence capacity, increasing industrial competitiveness and accelerating Europe's preparation to achieve the objectives set for 2030.

The dialogue highlighted the importance of implementing European initiatives dedicated to increasing the readiness level in accordance with the "Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030".

The officials stressed the need to strengthen European industrial competitiveness and develop a balanced European defense industrial and technological base, capable of rapidly manufacturing the necessary equipment by 2030. The role of the European Commission in stimulating investment and rendering operational the programs dedicated to the defence industry, such as SAFE or the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP), was appreciated.

At the same time, the Minister stressed the importance of effectively exploiting the industrial potential of all Member States in advancing the various EU support instruments, both for Member States and for Ukraine. In this regard, the efforts initiated through SAFE will need to be capitalized on by continuing investments in the existing and emerging infrastructure. This effort must be implemented in a coherent and comprehensive manner, including in support of the needs of Ukraine, which will benefit from the new support instrument: Ukraine Support Loan.

"Romania is fully committed to implementing the shared European vision on the preparedness of the defence industry by 2030. It is important to move faster to develop a strong, innovative, competitive defence industry locally, so that we can provide a balanced response, from a geographical point of view, in the face of current security challenges," the Minister of National Defence declared during the meeting.

In other news, the officials emphasized the importance of the flagship projects developed at European level on the Eastern Flank, with focus on rendering the Eastern Flank Watch operational, emphasizing the importance of connecting to these efforts the specific security needs of European states with access to the Black Sea.

The discussions also addressed the military mobility issue, the Romanian minister emphasizing that enabling the forces' rapid deployment to the Eastern Flank is a strategic priority. In this regard, the future Multiannual Financial Framework will play an essential role in supporting the necessary projects, with direct impact on strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence posture.

The Press Office