EU Chief to Visit Romania for Black Sea Security Talks

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Bucharest on Monday for talks with President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister Luca Niculescu. The meetings at Cotroceni Palace are scheduled for 15:30 and 17:45 respectively.

The visit is part of a Black Sea region trip that will continue in Bulgaria on Tuesday. It follows a deterioration in maritime security after drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

“The visit of the President of the European Commission is very important. It is not a courtesy visit, it is not a general visit. She comes to Romania and Bulgaria precisely to discuss concretely the security situation in the Black Sea region.”

Discussions will cover European defense and Black Sea security, the competitiveness of the European economy including energy issues, EU enlargement and support for Moldova, and negotiations on the 2028–2034 EU budget.

Romania and Bulgaria are working on a joint maritime security hub project, with components planned in Varna and Constanța. The mechanism will have a civilian character and will be developed gradually.

The project was discussed on November 6 in Bucharest by Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea and European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu.

MEP Siegfried Mureșan said the visit is not a courtesy call but focuses on concrete security issues in the region. He cited the European Parliament resolution adopted in October on the escalation of Russian attacks, particularly against Black Sea navigation.