Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis participated on Thursday in the inaugural meeting of the European Political Community, which took place in Prague, where he emphasised the importance of a joint approach with European partners of the profound changes in security today that require a united and strong European response, according to Agerpres.

According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, Iohannis reiterated the call for decisive, coordinated and in solidarity actions in the face of the continuous efforts of the Russian Federation to divide the European continent.

Iohannis also pleaded for strengthening resilience mechanisms to respond to hybrid threats from the Russian Federation, stressing that the reduction of dependencies, along with cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure must remain a priority.

He reiterated the need for continued support for Ukraine and highlighted the complex steps undertaken by Romania in support of Ukraine, in political, economic, financial, logistical and humanitarian terms.

For a better common understanding of current security threats, President Klaus Iohannis highlighted the essential importance of co-operation with other international partners who share the same values, advocating for the strengthening of EU-NATO cooperation and for a solid Transatlantic Partnership, as a cornerstone of European security.

Iohannis also emphasised the strategic importance of the Black Sea region.

Given that the war in Ukraine has also generated a geopolitical realignment, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised the importance of revitalising international partnerships and strengthening multilateralism in order to defend the system of universal values and the rules-based international order.

Iohannis welcomed the initiative to establish the European Political Community at a turning point in the continent’s history, voicing hope that it will contribute to the intensification of political coordination and structured cooperation between the EU and its European partners, without constituting an alternative to the process of expanding the Union, the Presidential Administration also says.

The meeting of the European Political Community was attended by officials of European institutions, leaders of the member states of the European Union, Western Balkan partner states, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the UK, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

„Held at a key moment for the European continent, amid the illegitimate and unjustified war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the inaugural meeting of the European Political Community offered the opportunity for a political dialogue on support for Ukraine, the reaction to the recent escalations by the Russian Federation, ensuring security, the energy situation and ensuring security of supply, climate change and economic developments. This new dialogue platform also sought to facilitate an open and comprehensive exchange of views in the new geopolitical context so that common courses of action can be defined in the spirit of unity and solidarity,” says the Romanian Presidential Administration.

President Klaus Iohannis will also attend an informal meeting of the European Council in Prague on Friday.

Agerpres