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CSAT approved Romania's participation in the European Union defence-related initiative
Romania's Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) has approved on Tuesday Romania's participation in the European Union defence-related initiative, the Presidential Administration announced.
"The Council has analysed the topic on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in defence at European Union level and has approved Romania's participation in this initiative," reads a press release of the Presidential Administration.
The Presidential Administration specifies that PESCO will represent an enhanced means of cooperation along the Common Security and Defence Policy dimension, concerning the development of the defence capabilities at European level, providing the opportunity for member states that comply with advanced criteria in the field of military capabilities and wish to take on further commitment, to achieve a mutually structured cooperation.
According to the press release, Romania will express its preliminary intention to participate in an initial set of 10 projects, of the ones so far advanced by the member states, conditioned by their acceptance within PESCO and whose subsequent development corresponds to the national priorities regarding the development of military capabilities.
Moreover, the Council's members have approved some measures to be taken so as to streamline the endowment of the Romanian Army and the boost of the national defence industry involvement regarding the specific procedure corresponding to the strategic programme of endowment with the 8x8 armoured personnel carrier.
"Thus, premises will be laid down for the consolidation and development in our country of several industrial capabilities to produce not only 8x8 armoured personnel carriers and byproducts of this programme, but also to carry out maintenance works for their entire life-cycle," reads the release.
The meeting, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis - CSAT's President, is also attended by Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, Internal Affairs Minister Carmen Dan, Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu, Economy Minister Gheorghe Simon, Finance Minister Ionut Misa, director of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) Eduard Hellvig, interim director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) Silviu Predoiu, Chief of Romania's General Staff, Gen. Nicolae Ciuca, presidential advisers Ion Oprisor and Leonard Orban and CSAT Secretary Mihai Somordolea.