Talks on defence and security in Europe
The European Commission executive vice-president Roxana Mînzatu had talks in Bucharest with the Romanian defence minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea
Mihai Pelin, 09.11.2026, 13:50
Last weekend in Bucharest, Romania’s defence minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea met with the European Commission executive vice-president Roxana Mînzatu. The talks focused on strengthening European defence capabilities and the role Romania should play in defining and developing European security projects, with an emphasis on the Black Sea region.
“An important topic was making the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub operational. This is a strategic project for Romania and the entire region, intended to contribute to better maritime situational awareness, information exchange, and the protection of critical infrastructure,” Radu Oprea said in a Facebook post.
According to him, the defence ministry will support the development of this structure with expertise and inter-institutional cooperation, in a manner complementary to NATO structures relevant to Black Sea security.
The meeting also addressed Romania’s participation in five European defence projects of mutual interest. They cover essential areas, from air defence, drones and anti-drone systems, to maritime security, surveillance, space, and the protection of the Eastern Flank.
For Romania, participation in these projects means not only access to European cooperation and resources, but also the opportunity to contribute directly to shaping the future European defence architecture, minister Oprea stated. He further emphasised that the European Union’s future multiannual budget for 2028–2034 must reflect security realities and pay due attention to the states on the Eastern Flank, particularly those in the Black Sea region.
For her part, the European Commission vice-president Roxana Mînzatu encouraged Romania to access European funds earmarked for defence and security, and voiced her confidence that Bucharest has both the openness and the opportunity to participate in the European decision-making process regarding the Black Sea region.
The talks also addressed the importance of aligning investments under the SAFE instrument with Romania’s operational requirements and its goals of strengthening defense readiness, in a manner complementary to NATO’s efforts.
The steps required for accessing additional funds, following the reallocation of amounts left over from the first phase of the programme, as well as the continued participation under the SAFE 2 component, were also examined.
“I believe that Romania must be not only a beneficiary of European defence policies but also an active participant in decisions concerning the continent’s security. We have the expertise, the strategic position, and the responsibility to contribute to this joint effort,” Radu Oprea stated.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the relationship between Romania and the European Commission for leveraging European defence instruments and strengthening security and resilience on the European Union’s Eastern Flank, the defence ministry argued. (AMP)
