H.E. Dr. Laureniu-Mihai tefan:

This is an important moment in the history of Europe. Before I start to read my opening statement let me express our hope that we will meet in other circumstances where we can discuss normal business, that is, business as usual. To resume our visits, I am preparing a visit of the delegation of the Committee of European Affairs to Ireland in June and hopefully we will have members of the committee travelling to that part of Europe, to Romania and to Poland. Stop on the way to Georgia and to Chisinau. Hopefully at some point when peace will come to Ukraine, you will visit Ukraine. A special thank you and hello to the Chairman, Deputy Joe McHugh, who has a dominating figure on the screens here. He is everywhere. I have been in touch with him over the past couple of weeks and I noticed his concern. I am sure he was talking on behalf of the whole committee. We are very grateful. I think I can speak on behalf of Ms Sochaska and the other ambassadors for the fact that he put this meeting on his agenda, and his concern and desire to help.

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss with the members of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs Romania’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and to the ensuing humanitarian crisis. Romania is extremely worried about the pace at which events are unfolding in Ukraine. As we speak, circumstances continue to aggravate, with more and more civilian casualties. This completely unjustified, illegal, unprovoked Russian aggression on Ukraine is a very serious violation of international law and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a turning point in recent European history, but its impact goes beyond Europe. The seismic consequences of the Russian invasion have ripple effects on the entire globe. It is also an outrageous violation of the international agreements to which Russia is a party, including the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe.

In our vicinity, the Republics of Moldova and Georgia are already extremely vulnerable and next in line for Moscow’s aggression. Our most important mission now is to act and prepare in the long term to safeguard Euro-Atlantic and global security and the rules-based international system. That is why it is important for all like-minded countries to remain in close contact and to act within the framework provided by the various international organizations, in order to uphold democratic values and international law.

A strong message of unity was sent by the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, who paid a visit to Bucharest on 11 March, on which occasion she met with President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuc. The meeting is part of close allied and transatlantic co-ordination efforts to manage the security situation, especially in the Black Sea, with an impact on Euro-Atlantic security. Romania is the NATO and EU member state with the longest border with Ukraine, of 640 km by land, in addition to a de facto maritime border with Russia since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Furthermore, Serpents’ Island, illegally occupied by Russia on 24 February, is close, at around 44 km, which is less than 24 nautical miles from Romanian shores. Our NATO and EU memberships do not mean we should take for granted we are sheltered from the impact of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. That is why Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defence has agreed to increase the percentage of GDP allocated to defence expenditures from 2%, as it is at present, to 2.5% in the future.

As a neighbouring country with Ukraine, Romania has received a high number of refugees and numbers are increasing by the hour. In these dire circumstances, Romania and Romanians have showed kindness and provided support. Romania was among the first states to respond to the activation of the EU’s civil protection mechanism, sending the first shipment of medicines and medical equipment as early as 25 February. An EU civil protection logistics hub was set up on 9 March in Suceava in the north east of Romania. The hub is meant to collect and channel international humanitarian aid to Ukraine, similar to the existing hubs in Poland and Slovakia. The inauguration took place in the presence of the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Janez Lenari.

From the first moments in which a massive influx of refugees began, Romania opened its borders to all Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war. As of 14 March, more than 412,000 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania and, of these, more than 85,000 remained in Romania and more than a third are children. Many others are assisted to travel to other destinations. There is an unprecedented mobilisation of the Romanian authorities, as well as of private entities and non-governmental organisations, to offer support to all those seeking refuge in these difficult times. The national authorities have undertaken measures to ensure Ukrainian citizens who decide to remain in Romania have access to health care, education and shelter. Measures have been taken to help them integrate into the workforce and for students to continue their studies. We are trying to do our best for them to feel safe and comfortable.

In the first days following the invasion, the Romanian Government supplemented the budget of the Ministry of Home Affairs with a total of €41 million from the national emergency reserve, and the government approved an aid package worth €3.4 million for Ukraine. Complementing the effort of Romanian authorities, the solidarity and willingness to help of Romanian citizens and non-governmental organisations were outstanding. The online platform “Ukraine – together we can help more” has recorded more than 6,600 offers of support in medicines, food and lodgings. More than 12,000 Romanians have donated blood in the first days of the campaign initiated by the Government to support the needs of those in Ukraine. Romania also accepted to receive the wounded for treatment in our health facilities.

A great deal of work has been done relating to the Republic of Moldova to support its capacities, which are stretched to the limit, as we have just heard. Romanian officials are working with the authorities in Chisinu to create green corridors to help them with the transfer of refugees from Ukraine to Romania.

Ukraine is not alone. Romania will continue to support fully Ukraine’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its democratically elected representatives. We should continue to defend its right to choose freely its own foreign policy. The same applies in the case of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. At these exceptional times, Romania considers that the European Union should recognise the European perspective for Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.

Irish officials and Romanian officials are in close contact. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, has had a phone conversation with the head of our emergency unit that is in the first line of organising the humanitarian effort. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will travel to Romania and will meet with the Minister of State with responsibility for emergency situations on Friday, when she will visit a refugee camp. Therefore, on a bilateral dimension, our two countries have started to work increasingly closely and it is hoped this will be only the beginning. I thank members for their attention.