Bolojan meets EU envoys as Black Sea ship attacks dominate security talks

Meeting with EU ambassadors

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan met on Wednesday, 14 October, with ambassadors of the European Union member states and the European Commission's representative in Bucharest. According to a government communiqué, the talks covered Romania's economic situation, energy security and threats in the Black Sea region. Bolojan thanked the envoys for their cooperation and constant support for the government. He also congratulated the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU on its work so far and wished it success in the rest of its mandate. Describing the country's place in the bloc, he said:

Romania's membership of the European Union is one of the most important achievements of the last 35 years.

Budget and energy

Bolojan presented the measures the government has adopted to balance the budget and correct structural weaknesses in the economy. He stressed that these measures must be continued given the complicated international context. He also highlighted energy security and keeping prices affordable for the population. According to the communiqué, the measures aim to strengthen the Romanian economy and raise confidence among businesses.

Black Sea security

The government describes the security situation in the Black Sea region as in continuous deterioration. Bolojan indicated Romania's readiness to cooperate more closely with Bulgaria and Turkey to ensure safe navigation in the region. The talks also covered hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. They took place against the backdrop of attacks on commercial ships in the exclusive economic zones of Romania and Bulgaria.

Attacks on commercial ships

On 5 October the commercial vessel Royad Mammadov sank near the Romanian coast after a fire that Ukrainian authorities attributed to a Russian drone attack. Two crew members died and 11 others were rescued. On 6 and 13 October, drones hit four other commercial ships off the Bulgarian coast, and two of them sank. Crew outcomes for the Royad Mammadov are shown below.