#Romania2019.eu/StateSec Nasta:Romania will put in all efforts to fulfill its commitment to contribute to strengthening unity of the EU

Secretary of State for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations Nicolae Nasta and Chief of General Staff General Nicolae Ciuca met on Tuesday at the National Military Circle with attaches of defence of the EU member states and partner countries, accredited in Bucharest, within a reception organised on the occasion of Romania taking over the mandate of the Presidency at the European Union Council.

"In the context of the current challenges facing Europe, Romania will put in all the efforts to fulfill its commitment to contribute to strengthening the unity and cohesion of the European Union. In this regard, the slogan of our Presidency - 'Cohesion, a common European value' fully reflects the imperious need for unity and cooperation among the European Union members," Secretary of State Nasta stated, as quoted in a release of the National Defence Ministry (MApN) sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

According to Nasta, the Common Defence and Security Policy of the EU will be the main topic on Romania's agenda during its mandate as the Presidency at the EU Council.

"Our mandate will focus on ensuring continuity in the efforts to guarantee the most suitable mechanism and instruments which the European Union can respond with to the current and future security threats, in accordance with the level of ambition established through the Global Strategy of the European Union. At the same time, in our view, the security and defence dimension of the EU should be developed in full complementarity with NATO and with the goal of ensuring transatlantic ties," Nasta added.

In his turn, General Nicolae Ciuca underscored that "today, Europe is confronted with a very complex international security context, defined by important developments that significantly affect international stability and security."

"The range of challenges extends from aggressive actions in full non-compliance with international law to the expansion of international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. These challenges require the European Union to always be ready in order to have the adequate capabilities and assume an important role in terms of contributing to global security," Ciuca said.

The Chief of General Staff mentioned that, from a military point of view, Romania will contribute to the general efforts put in by the permanent structured cooperation in the Defence area (PESCO) for strengthening the integration of European defence and it will further act in view of strengthening the projects related to the development of defence capabilities.

"We believe that PESCO will provide to the member states the possibility to improve their defence capabilities by participating in well coordinated initiatives," the Chief of General Staff concluded. AGERPRES (RO - author: Livia Popescu, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)

Photo source: mapn.ro