Romanian President Calls for Increased EU Defence Funding at Informal Council Meeting

At the informal EU Council meeting on Monday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis emphasized the need to boost defence funding at both national and EU levels. He called for mobilizing all available EU instruments to secure adequate resources for defence, according to a statement from the Presidential Administration, CE Report quotes Agerpres

Highlighting the geopolitical challenges posed by Russia, Iohannis stressed that strengthening European security and defence should be a strategic priority. He urged an "innovative and ambitious" approach to financing defence capabilities and industry, ensuring they adapt to new geostrategic realities. He also advocated for integrating national defence industry reforms with EU mechanisms for a more comprehensive approach.

The President underscored that the scale of security threats and defence costs surpasses the capacity of individual EU member states, necessitating a joint effort at the European level. He called for close cooperation within the EU, NATO, and global partners to bolster deterrence and defence strategies.

Iohannis reaffirmed NATO as the foundation of European collective defence and emphasized the need for strengthened EU-NATO collaboration, particularly in defence industry development and military aid for Ukraine. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong EU-US partnership and fostering deeper security cooperation with the United Kingdom, especially in the Black Sea region.

The meeting also included discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focusing on strengthening European defence capabilities, financing, and partnerships. Leaders deliberated on strategic directions for the upcoming 'White Paper' on European defence, to be presented later this year. The talks revolved around increasing Europe's responsibility for its own security while enhancing cooperation within the EU and with international allies.