Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu participated on Wednesday in Brussels in the conference The Black Sea Strategic Approach: Time to Deliver, an event organized by MEPs Dan Barna and Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Bulgaria) and hosted by the Romanian Representation to the EU, with representatives of the European institutions, specifically the European Commission and the European Parliament, members of the civil society and experts in the field, as well as representatives of the EU Member States in Brussels.
The conference was aimed at facilitating the exchange views on the renewed strategic importance of the Black Sea in the new regional, European and international context, as reflected in the Joint Communication of the European Commission and the European External Action Service on the EU’s Strategic Approach for the Black Sea Region.
The debates tackled aspects regarding the concrete proposals for flagship projects included in the strategic document adopted on May 28, 2025, aimed at stimulating cooperation and promoting security, peace and resilience in the region. The speakers also highlighted the opportunities for cooperation between EU Member States and partner states in the region on priority areas of common interest, with a focus on maritime safety and security, countering of hybrid threats, protection of critical infrastructure, and the promotion of connectivity in the region.
In her address, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu advocated the rapid implementation of the EU’s strategic approach for the Black Sea region on all three priority action areas targeted – security, connectivity and increased resilience at the level of coastal communities. She pointed out that the success of this strategy depends on extensive cooperation between member states, European institutions, non-EU partners and the civil society.
The Romanian top diplomat also insisted on the role of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova as essential pillars in the EU’s strategic approach to the Black Sea, affirming that the EU’s support for their European course, as reflected in the opening of accession negotiations, is a vital step for strengthening democratic resilience and stability in the Eastern Neighborhood. AGERPRES
