Interim Foreign Minister Oana Toiu informed her EU counterparts about repeated illegal incursions by Russian drones into Romania's national airspace and exclusive economic zone and stressed the need for enhanced measures to protect the Eastern Flank, taking into account the complementarity of EU and NATO instruments.

Oana Toiu attended the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Ireland holding the Presidency of the EU Council.

According to a Foreign Ministry press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, the first session, which also invited ministers from Canada, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom and Ukraine to join the discussion, addressed the response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the escalation of the conflict, including in the context of the expansion of security incidents in the Black Sea and the findings of the German authorities concerning the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Oana Toiu stressed that the security situation in the Black Sea as a result of Russia's aggression has a major impact on grain exports, global food security and grain prices.

'Romania is closely coordinating with the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the European Commission to facilitate grain exports and mitigate the challenges affecting their prices. She stressed the role of the Port of Constanta and the Solidarity Lanes in increasing grain transit to the Middle East and Africa and highlighted the need for measures to protect both the local market and local agricultural producers in the EU,' the Foreign Ministry release reads.

Oana Toiu also informed her counterparts about repeated illegal incursions by Russian drones into Romania's national airspace and exclusive economic zone and stressed the need for enhanced measures to protect the Eastern Flank, taking into account the complementarity of EU and NATO instruments.

'She mentioned the intensification of Russia's hybrid actions against EU member states and partners, expressing solidarity with those affected and stressing the need for a coherent and coordinated approach to these actions. During the session on improving EU action in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy/CFSP, Minister Oana Toiu highlighted Romania's joint efforts, together with other EU member states and the European External Action Service, to strengthen the EU's global profile, with an emphasis on making the most of the EU's strengths, unity and solidarity, while improving decision-making at European level,' the Foreign Ministry said.

Such measures can produce results aimed at increasing trade and strengthening the partnerships needed for security and respect for international law, the source said.

Oana Toiu highlighted the opportunities that the forthcoming UN General Assembly could provide for a joint EU effort to reform the UN and strengthen multilateralism, as well as for more effective coordination in support of European priorities.

During the final session, dedicated to the situation in the Middle East, the focus was on supporting initiatives aimed at maritime security and freedom of navigation in compliance with international law.

The Romanian minister pointed out that continued instability in the region is affecting supply chains and global energy prices.

The Romanian official highlighted Romania's latest assistance to Gaza, with the organisation on 31 August of the 12th flight for the emergency medical evacuation of five paediatric patients. The operation directly reflects Romania's commitments under the Washington Board of Peace and confirms its efforts to support civilians severely affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)