site.btaEuropean Security Centre to Be Located in Constanta, Romanian President Proposes at Meeting with European Commission President

Romania is of particular strategic importance for European and Euro-Atlantic security, Romanian President Nicusor Dan said during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to the country on Monday. With a slight delay due to the jamming of her plane's GPS signal, she landed in Constanta from Bulgaria in the afternoon on Monday. The two officials visited the Mihail Kogalniceanu military base, located near the coastal city.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was also supposed to attend the meeting, but he remained in Bucharest due to a meeting of the ruling coalition and a session of Parliament.

“Our joint visit today reflects the geostrategic importance of the port of Constanta, both as a commercial and military logistics centre and in terms of future efforts to rebuild Ukraine,” said the Romanian Head of State.

He added that Romania can contribute a lot in this direction because of its geographical location. He expressed hope that Constanta, the largest port on the Black Sea, will become a European hub for security.

Nicusor Dan also announced that Romania will start exporting gas in 2027, thus contributing to the energy security of the country and of Europe.  

Ursula von der Leyen, in turn, said that a roadmap for energy security will be presented at the upcoming European Council.  A new European budget is also expected to be adopted within two years, which will triple the funds allocated for border security, and investments in military mobility will be increased to ten times the current level. Within two years, a new European budget is to be adopted, which will triple the funds for border security and increase investments in military mobility tenfold.

"You help keep Europe save in the air and waters of the Black Sea and more than ever Romania is a key asset for European security and a key partner of NATO's Eastern flank," von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with Nicusor Dan. 

In closing, Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Romania on its efforts to tackle the budget deficit.