Minister of Foreign Affairs Bohdan Aurescu will take part on Monday in the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of EU member states – the Council of Foreign Affairs (CAE), which is held in Brussels.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the heads of foreign affairs of European countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as on the situation in Afghanistan and climate and energy diplomacy. European officials will also discuss developments in Iran, with an emphasis on the human rights situation and Iran’s military cooperation with Russia.

On the sidelines of the EAC, the European foreign ministers will hold an informal exchange of views during a working lunch with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Nika Popescu – an item on the agenda at the suggestion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bohdan Aurescu.

“Discussions regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine take place in the context of one year since the beginning of the war. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bohdan Aurescu will once again confirm solidarity with Ukraine and support the need to maintain EU support for Ukraine as long as it remains in place. crimes in Ukraine. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs will remind about the multidimensional support that Romania has provided to Ukraine since the first day of the war, and will inform about the updated data on the export of Ukrainian grain through Romania, which has so far reached approximately 13 million tons,” the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

The same source clarifies that during a working lunch with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nika Popescu, Minister Bohdan Aurescu will touch on the latest events in the Republic of Moldova, in the context of the recent inauguration of the new government in Chisinau, with an emphasis on Russia’s destabilization attempts and the position of the Romanian economy on this issue.

At the same time, the head of Romanian diplomacy will emphasize the need for EU support for the Republic of Moldova in all dimensions, in order to strengthen the stability and stability of the state, as well as to permanently consolidate the Republic of Moldova. in the EU. Thus, it will contribute to the rapid progress of discussions on the consolidation of the security of the Republic of Moldova, in particular through the establishment of a civilian EU mission dedicated to this state and the continuation of financial assistance through the European Peace Fund in the coming years. . Regarding the European course, he will emphasize the commitment to the implementation of the necessary reforms undertaken by the new government, and will indicate the priority areas of support for the next period.

“Discussions on Afghanistan will take place in the context of decisions taken by the de facto Taliban government to limit women’s access to education and the right to work in international non-governmental organizations that operate

in Afghanistan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania will emphasize that, taking into account Romania’s membership of the Human Rights Council in the period 2023-2025, he will support a firm and principled response from the EU, in particular by applying sanctions to the perpetrators. Discussions on the situation in Iran will aim to confirm the EU’s firm position on the brutal suppression of peaceful protests following the assassination of Mahsa Amini. Minister Bohdan Aurescu will express his concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation and his support for supporting the firm position of the EU, including through new sanctions,” the statement also said.

In addition, discussions on climate and energy diplomacy will aim to confirm the EU’s ambitions for the green transition, both domestically and globally, and to strengthen the EU’s messaging to global partners to encourage them to step up their climate and energy efforts. sphere, including from the point of view of the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the instrumentalization of energy against some states.