European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is to attend EU-NATO defense talks in Romania at the Black Sea city of Constanta.
The EC chief is making a multi-country tour of the EU’s eastern frontline states, “with a focus on strengthening solidarity and defense in the face of growing security challenges from Russia and Belarus,” the European Commission said.
Ms von der Leyen will meet Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Constanta on Monday where discussions will focus on EU-NATO cooperation and measures to prevent and deter maritime and hybrid threats.
The European Commission President is also traveling to Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria.
Her visit is to “underscore the EU’s support for Member States facing the challenges of sharing borders with Russia or Belarus. She will also discuss Europe’s security and defense with government leaders and military officials,” the office said in a statement.
On Friday, she will travel to Riga, where she will meet the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa before heading to Helsinki to hold talks with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
The President and the Prime Minister will be briefed on Europe’s response to Russia’s shadow fleet and threats from seabed warfare targeting critical undersea infrastructure like communication and power cables, and energy pipelines,” the EC said..
She will also participate in a working dinner hosted by the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.
