European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a call for the urgent operationalisation of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub. Speaking during a joint briefing with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Bucharest on Monday, she praised the deepening maritime cooperation between Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye, while emphasizing that the European Union must adopt a mindset of urgency regarding regional defence and security challenges.
Highlighting the deteriorating security situation, von der Leyen noted that the skies over the Black Sea have become increasingly dangerous in recent weeks. She cited drone attacks targeting commercial vessels off the coast, which have resulted in the deaths of sailors and left others missing at sea. According to the Commission President, these incidents are frequently accompanied by foreign information manipulation, where hostile actors weaponise the information space to sow fear and uncertainty among citizens and democracies.
To bolster regional stability, von der Leyen announced an additional €10 million, equivalent to $11.2 million, in funding for Romanian authorities. This financial support is intended to enhance search and rescue operations, enabling a faster and more effective response to maritime emergencies. She stressed the necessity of restoring freedom of navigation, which she described as vital for Europe, the Ukrainian economy, and global food security.
Regarding the upcoming US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Kiev. She stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had requested European assistance for the talks, which are focused on ending the war. While the EU is simultaneously developing a post-war prosperity plan to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, she clarified that meaningful discussions on a new European security architecture can only occur once a ceasefire is achieved and should involve NATO and EU partners. Moscow has insisted that the Abu Dhabi discussions remain strictly trilateral between Russia, Ukraine, and the US.
