European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced in Bucharest that Romania would receive an additional EUR 10 million to improve its search and rescue operations in the Black Sea. The EU will also allocate EUR 50 million to accelerate the development of a regional maritime security hub involving Romania and Bulgaria, alongside closer cooperation with T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n
The EC president made the announcements<\/strong> on Monday, November 9, during joint press statements<\/a> with Romanian president Nicu\u0219or Dan at Cotroceni Palace. Her visit came amid heightened security concerns following drone attacks on commercial ships off the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe skies over the Black Sea have darkened, particularly in recent weeks with drone attacks targeting commercial ships off your coasts. Innocent sailors having lost their lives, others are still missing at sea. My thoughts today are with their families and loved ones. And I want to express Europe’s full solidarity with Romania; we stand with you,\u201d von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n According to her, the bloc\u2019s response would focus on restoring freedom of navigation, strengthening maritime surveillance, and improving its capacity to respond to crises.<\/p>\n \u201cFreedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored and preserved,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a vital trade route for Europe, for Ukraine\u2019s economy and for global food security.\u201d<\/p>\n The EUR 10 million allocation will support Romanian authorities\u2019 capacity to respond rapidly to maritime incidents through search and rescue operations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe horrific recent incidents in the Black Sea are a key example,\u201d von der Leyen further stated. \u201cToday, I am pleased to announce an additional EUR 10 million in funding to Romanian authorities for search and rescue operations.\u201d<\/p>\n The Commission president also announced that work on the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub would be accelerated. The initiative was first included in the EU\u2019s Black Sea Strategy in mid-2025.<\/p>\n \u201cSince then, the security environment has deteriorated much faster than any of us anticipated,\u201d she said. The EU will also strengthen maritime surveillance in the region by providing satellite imagery through its Copernicus program, which von der Leyen said could deliver immediate benefits.<\/p>\n During the same joint press statements<\/a>, president Nicu\u0219or Dan stated<\/strong> that the Black Sea was important to Europe because of its role in global trade, energy security, and the future reconstruction of Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot speak of lasting peace in Ukraine or an efficient way of rebuilding Ukraine without a secure Black Sea,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dan also described recent drone incursions, sabotage operations, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns as parts of a broader hybrid war.<\/p>\n \u201cRussia is clearly trying to escalate the conflict it started five years ago in Ukraine and involve European countries in this conflict,\u201d he said during the press statements.<\/p>\n Later the same day, in a Facebook post following the meeting, president Dan welcomed both funding allocations and said the maritime security hub would be managed by Romania and Bulgaria.<\/p>\n \u201cThe additional EUR 10 million for Romania\u2019s search and rescue operations in the Black Sea will help save lives,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAll this support means greater security in the region and more protection for our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIn this context, I welcome the closer maritime cooperation between Romania, Bulgaria and T\u00fcrkiye. We must all work with an urgency mindset when it comes to our defence and security. That is why I am very pleased to announce that in agreement with Romania and Bulgaria, we will now fast-track the work on the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, with a clear timeline for completion, and dedicated funding of EUR 50 million.\u201d<\/p>\n