November 28, 2023

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 28.11.2023, 13:55

TALKS – Prime Minister
Marcel Ciolacu today met EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa
Ferreira, who is paying an official visit to Romania. Romania has absorbed 90%
of EU funds over the 2014-2020 financial framework and is thus ranked 4th
at EU level, the Romanian Prime Minister said. Marcel Ciolacu added that EU
Commissioner Ferreira also hailed this historic premiere. The EU official
encouraged Bucharest to continue to develop its administrative capacities and
develop long-term programs of economic advancement and sophisticated
technologies, so as to move from the development phase to becoming an economy
that produces added-value. Following talks with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu
in Bucharest, the EU official will deliver a keynote speech on the sidelines of
the conference titled Green and digital transformation backed by EU funds: the
cohesion policy of the future and reconciling industrial transition with
territorial challenges, hosted by the Romanian Parliament.

NATO – Foreign Minister
Luminița Odobescu is attending the two-day meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers
held in Brussels. The event is held against the backdrop of a deteriorating
security climate, impacting multiple areas of increased interest for the
Alliance – the Russian aggression in Ukraine, tensions in the Western Balkans, the
military conflict pitting Israel against Hamas. The NATO meeting also marks a
key milestone ahead of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington. According to the
Romanian MFA, Minister Odobescu will express solidarity with the Alliance and
refer to NATO’s efficiency in promoting security and stability. The Romanian
Minister will also highlight the strategic importance of the Black Sea region
to Euro-Atlantic security and will encourage the development of a structured
approach to this region, as per the Allied resolutions adopted in Madrid and
Vilnius. At the same time, Minister Odobescu will underline the need to fully
implement the decisions to consolidate NATO’s deterrence posture. With respect
to the Western Balkans, Luminița Odobescu will call on NATO to continue its
support for this region by closely cooperating with the EU.

CEASEFIRE – The ceasefire
between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been extended for 48 hours. On the fifth
day of the break in hostilities, another 10 Israeli hostages are expected to be
released, while essential humanitarian aid should reach Gaza. Approximately 170
people are still held hostage in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack, the
Israeli army says. In turn, Hamas claims it is not holding all these people,
which could complicate efforts to release the most vulnerable of them. A group of
Israeli hostages arrived last night in Israel, after Hamas released them in
exchange for 33 Palestinian prisoners.

EU-UK RELATIONS – Romania’s Defense
Minister Angel Tîlvăr on Monday met his British counterpart, Grant Shapps,
during his visit to London. The two officials discussed prospects of
consolidating and developing the strategic partnership between Romania and the
UK, the security context in the Black Sea region, the Russian Federation’s
aggression in Ukraine and topics on the NATO agenda. We discussed ways to
consolidate cooperation with regard to consolidating NATO’s defense and
deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank, implementing the NATO Strategic
Concept and the need to continue exchanges with a view to better understand the
specific challenges of each region, Minister Tîlvăr said. In his talks with
Grant Shapps, the Romanian Defense Minister also expressed concern regarding
the security of the Black Sea region, generated by a dangerous escalations
caused by Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. On the other
hand, Minister Tîlvăr hailed the UK’s contribution to consolidating Allied
postures on the Eastern Flank, particularly in the Black Sea region, which he
described as a clear expression of Allied solidarity and unity. The UK’s
participation in air policing missions in Romania, its future engagements and
exercises at bilateral and multilateral level are but a few examples of this
contribution, the Romanian official said. (VP)