The EU will fast-track the establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, backed by €50 million in dedicated funding, Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday in Bucharest.
Speaking alongside Romanian President Nicușor Dan, the European Commission President said the initiative, first presented in the Commission’s Black Sea strategy in mid-2025, had become more urgent as the regional security environment dramatically deteriorated.
“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 €50 million,” von der Leyen said.
Negotiations on the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub have previously stalled on the possible involvement of Turkey, a NATO ally and major stakeholder in the Region. Ankara’s participation in the project faced resistance from some European capitals.
The Commission president did not address the issue but “welcomed” closer maritime cooperation between Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, stressing the need for all three countries to work with an “urgency mindset” on defence and security in the Black Sea.
Von der Leyen also announced an additional €10 million in EU funding for Romanian authorities to strengthen search-and-rescue operations, enabling them to respond more rapidly and effectively to incidents at sea.
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She called for freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to be restored and preserved, describing the waterway as vital for European trade, Ukraine’s economy and global food security.
She also highlighted the role of the EU’s Copernicus satellite system in providing maritime surveillance through satellite imagery.
The president stressed that the Commission has recently opened a second SAFE funding round, making more than €21 billion available to member states from unused allocations and encouraged Romania to apply for further funding to develop capabilities needed to protect its territory and the Black Sea.
On SAFE loans, the president praised Romania’s joint drone initiative with Ukraine, describing it as an example of cooperation for future projects.
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