A joint French-Romanian-Dutch declaration on foreign and security co-operation was signed by the foreign ministers of the three countries, Catherine Colonna, Bogdan Aurescu and Wopke Hoekstra, according to Agerpres.

„Our countries are committed to broadening and deepening our diplomatic ties and strengthening our capabilities to face current and future threats and challenges to our security and shared values. This Bucharest Declaration marks our ambition to boost our partnership, which includes foreign policy, defence and security, sustainable development and all other relevant topics of common interest at EU and multilateral levels,” reads the document.

In this sense, co-operation of the three countries inside NATO and support for Ukraine and Moldova are reconfirmed.

„Romania, France and the Netherlands stand shoulder to shoulder in condemning Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. We will step up our support for the people of Ukraine, to help them defend themselves successfully. We reiterate our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, as well as for providing multidimensional assistance to Ukraine, including for building its resilience and long-term reconstruction,” the document points out.

The declaration also mentions the Moldova Support Platform initiated by Romania, France and Germany.

Romania, France and the Netherlands recommit to combatting irregular migration and bolstering co-operation within Europe, in line with the proposals in the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Moreover, according to the declaration signed in Bucharest, France and the Netherlands are „welcoming Romania in the Schengen area as soon as possible.”

„Romania’s accession will be a clear demonstration of the principle that accession is possible when the requirements are met. Romania, France and the Netherlands consider that the resilience of the Schengen area, in particular when it comes to effective border management, is of utmost importance, and are committed to work together, as well as with other partners in order to make all EU external borders more secure,” the declaration also reads.

According to the declaration, France and the Netherlands also look forward to welcoming Romania to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) soon.

Regarding the downing of flight MH17, „we will continue to do everything we can to establish the truth and achieve full accountability and justice for the victims and their next of kin. We welcome the proceedings against the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.”

„We welcome the proceedings against the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Civil Aviation Organisation,” the three countries also say in their joint declaration.

Agerpres