Austrian Minister of Defence: Romania taking over EU Council Presidency ensures continuity of European defence projects

By taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Romania ensures the continuity of the European projects in security and defence, Austrian Minister of Defence Mario Kunasek, on an official visit in Bucharest, said on Monday.

Mario Kunasek met with the Romanian Minister of Defence, Gabriel Les, at the seat of the National Defence Ministry.

I have noticed during our conversation that there is great compatibility between our visions. I would like to express my joy regarding the fact that Romania's taking on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union convinces us that there will be a continuity of our projects. This continuity is a guarantee for the strengthening of the security and defence policies. During our term, there have been many projects that will be carried out during your term. Mr. minister listed a few points, I would only like to reinforce what he said. Especially as concerns PESCO [Permanent Structure Cooperation ed. n], it is important that we can implement the projects that have been started," Kunasek told joint press statements alongside his Romanian counterpart.

He reminded that two of the PESCO projects are in a collaboration between Romania and Austria.

A second point, just as important for Austria and Romania is the issue of the Western Balkans. During our term we said that it is our duty to export security so as not to be forced to import insecurity in Europe, but we wish for the participating countries to obtain the capability of being able to resolve their issues on their own. In this sense, I once again express how glad I am that the minister voiced his availability for Romania to develop the projects began by Austria on the topic of the Western Balkans, Kunasek highlighted.

He mentioned that throughout the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council one of the priorities was ensuring the external borders of the Union, many operations, demarches in the area of military-civilian cooperation having been developed.

In this sense, there will be a joint exercise in Hungary, next year, in June, intended to enforce common defence projects of the external borders and it brings me great joy that Romania expressed an increased interest in this sense, the Austrian minister said.

I would like to assure you that once the Presidency is handed and taken over, the collaboration between Romania and Austria will be strengthened, Mario Kunasek pointed out. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea editor: Claudia Stanescu; EN - author: Catalin Cristian Trandafir, editor: Simona Iacob)