By Janet Ekstract
NEW YORK- In Bucharest, Romania on December 1, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis presided over a joint EU-Parliamentary Commission meeting on European security where both agreed security in Europe is of crucial importance to protect the future of democracy in Europe. As Iohannis commented: “We evaluated, together, Romania’s security situation in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” He added that it’s the first time that “the strategic importance of the Black Sea” was incorporated into the new NATO Summit Agreement. The Romanian president said that his country will “continue to bring a substantial contribution to NATO’s defense to strengthen defense spending.” Iohannis said: “This commitment is based on concrete steps on the decision to increase our defense from two percent to two and a half percent defense spending in 2023.” He said that “substantial progress” was seen over the last ten months in creating a much stronger NATO presence on the eastern flank, adding that Romania hosts five-thousand allied troops.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Romania for its “strong commitment to maintaining defense spending and investing in defense.” Stoltenberg said that battalions had been set up in Romania and that fighter jets from Canada are keeping Romania’s skies safe. The NATO chief said: “We will do what is necessary to defend our allies.” Stoltenberg commented that the discussion centered around how support for Ukraine could be increased. He added that Romania was a valuable partner, and said: “You have proven a generous host to over 1.5 million refugees. You have provided significant military assistance to Ukraine. Stoltenberg reiterated what he has often said: “We cannot let Putin win. It is in our security interests to support Ukraine.”
Both the Iohannis and Stoltenberg agreed as Iohannis said: “Moldova is a very special concern for us.” The Romanian president added that Moldova is “committed along the pro-European route.” He added: “We encourage this pro-European and pro-reform direction.” He said that his government is helping Moldova with expertise in dealing with electricity, fuel and gas. Iohannis reiterated: “We are fully aware that for everyday citizens in Romania, things are complicated. I don’t see any signs that there will be any changes in Moldova’s approach and people realize it is very complicated for Moldova and for ourselves but that doesn’t mean reforms should stop.” Iohannis added that Romania is ready and willing to extend even more support to Moldova because he said “it is clear they need the support.” Iohannis thanked Stoltenberg for his efforts in coordinating “Nato’s modernization,” adding “implementing this concept will lead to an increased role for our lands. Russia’s actions are a deliberate attempt to undermine and destroy this order. The way we respond to this challenge will largely shape our world. This is why we need a very strong NATO.”
Ministers raised a number of concerns regarding EU security during the parliamentary commission session with the NATO chief. A major concern the EU Parliament Committee raised was about airspace in Europe not being sufficiently protected and that now is the time that “priorities now need to be put into action,” a minister remarked. Another concern that was highlighted by a different minister was “care for our democracies.” Shared values are at the heart of the EU and NATO joint declaration, ministers agreed and that the resilience of democracy must be protected in any proposal as well as what role the EU can play in such an initiative. Stoltenberg had referenced that there are currently 74 projects underway to advance security operations. A German minister asked how can “we optimize our synergies between those distinct but very similar coordination,” and wanted to know how and when those projects would be implemented. Stoltenberg took questions from a number of ministers and reiterated that such projects “are a way to make sure that we are constantly developing and strengthening cooperation between the EU and NATO.” The NATO chief also said that Finland and Sweden have a significant contribution to NATO since both have strong militaries and that he is looking forward to seeing them become NATO members.
