Romania holds a "special" position in negotiations over the European Union budget, as it borders Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and has access to the Black Sea, Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu said on Tuesday ahead of her participation in the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
She emphasised that Romania's priority in shaping the EU budget is to maintain policies that are at the core of the European Union, ensuring they complement rather than compete with each other, with particular focus on the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion policy.
Toiu also highlighted Romania's contribution to increasing competitiveness within the EU.
"To achieve this, we want to ensure broad access to funding and prevent any monopolisation, whether by larger states or major companies. And, of course, the focus on security should be in a way that ensures the investments we make now remain relevant in peacetime. Romania also holds this special position in upcoming negotiations as a country bordering the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, with access to the Black Sea. All three of these elements are important not only for Romania but for the entire European Union, and we want them reflected in budgetary priorities," the Romanian foreign minister added.
Regarding investments in the military sector, Oana Toiu stressed that it is "extremely important to focus on dual-use projects, whether infrastructure or investment in the defence industry, as we need to prepare now to address border risks and deter any form of aggression." She further pointed out that investments in this context must also benefit society and the economy during peacetime.
At the working session on the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, Romania is represented by Foreign Minister Oana Toiu while , Clara Staicu, secretary of state for European Affairs, the Middle East and Africa, is participating in the other sessions on the meeting agenda.
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