At the Black Sea Security Conference held today in Chisinau, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaia Kalas outlined the EU's security priorities in the region, the Moldovan news agency MOLDPRES reported, quoted by BTA.
Kalas said that the Black Sea region is a battlefield for Russia, with “Russia's aggression manifested itself through the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine“.
“Millions of Ukrainians need serious security in the Black Sea region. The priorities are clear. We must protect the security and freedom of navigation in this vital region, improve defenses against threats, keep transport routes open and develop mobility, connectivity and preparedness,” the European Commission Vice-President said in a video address.
She also stressed the need to establish a security center in the region.
“If we talk about security and a security center, this will be the first early warning system in the Black Sea. It will also help strengthen the infrastructure and provide all the necessary facilities. We are ready to provide all the necessary support to Romania and Bulgaria. This is also a contribution to regional security in Ukraine, Turkey and Moldova and they should also be included,“ said Kallas.
She mentioned attempts at manipulation and external interference in the context of the parliamentary elections in the country, noting that “we can become stronger through the lessons learned“.
Kallas highlighted the efforts being made to achieve peace in the region.
“We are determined to build peace in the region and the European Union is number one in supporting this. Russia is not interested in peace in Ukraine or in the Black Sea region. European attention is focused on European defense, including the new security strategy for the regions where we face threats. We understand that this is a long-term threat in the Black Sea region and we will fight for peace in the region“, concluded the Vice-President of the European Commission.
Moldova is hosting the Black Sea Security Conference under the auspices of the International Platform on Crimea. The meeting is jointly organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Moldova and Ukraine, with the support of the European Union.
This is the third edition of the Conference. The event is a continuation of the dialogue launched in Bucharest in 2023 and in Sofia in 2024, in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.