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Security situation in Ukraine, coordination in refugee flows management addressed by President Iohannis and Ylva Johansson
President Klaus Iohannis welcomed on Monday at the Cotroceni Palace the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, the discussions of the two high officials focusing on the security situation in Ukraine, as well as on solidarity and coordination in the management of refugee flows from Ukraine, forced to leave their country subjected to unprecedented aggression from Russia, according to the Presidential Administration.
"The President of Romania expressed appreciation for the active involvement of the European Commission in the management of the current crisis in Ukraine, both on the sanctions component and on the one of direct support to Ukraine and its population. President Klaus Iohannis also welcomed the support and openness of the European Commission and the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to work with Romania and other states in the region to manage refugee flows," the source said.
The Presidential Administration specifies that President Klaus Iohannis has presented Romania's support efforts for Ukraine, which focuses on several levels: political, security and humanitarian, stressing that our country supports the Ukrainian state, both within the European Union, through consistent and comprehensive decisions made at European level and at bilateral level, by providing humanitarian, but also military support.
The head of the state presented the situation of the Ukrainian refugees in Romania and the measures taken so far by the authorities, together with the collective effort, together with the population and the civil society, to help the refugees from Ukraine.
President Klaus Iohannis also discussed the concrete ways of European assistance for situation management, namely the use of European instruments such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund or the Fund for Border Management and Visa.
The head of the state called for consistent European support to the Republic of Moldova, which is also facing an important influx of refugees from Ukraine.
President Klaus Iohannis thanked the European Commission and the European Commissioner for their support in Romania's bid to join the Schengen Area, noting that Romania is already acting de facto as a member of Schengen.
The Presidential Administration says that Ylva Johansson expressed appreciation for the strong solidarity shown by Romania in providing support to refugees in Ukraine and for preparing national measures to receive refugees and their protection.
In this context, the European Commissioner noted that EU member states must continue to be prepared for the reception of an even greater number of refugees from Ukraine, stressing the importance of coordination and solidarity of member states. The European official expressed support for Romania's use of European instruments and funds and openness and for supporting the Republic of Moldova in managing the current situation.
Just under 71,000 Ukrainians have fled to Romania since Russia invaded Ukraine, and more than half of them have already exited the country through its Bulgarian and Hungarian borders, government spokesman Dan Carbunaru said on Monday.
He added the Romanian government has organized the shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine from donations made by civic society, including medicine and other sanitary products, food, water, winter clothes and blankets.
Separately, thousands of volunteers of civic tech activist group Code for Romania have built online platforms for the management of resources and volunteers which they made available to authorities.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs reiterated the European Commission's support for Romania's accession to the Schengen area.