Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu recently emphasized, during the discussions with the US representatives, the role of Romania in the reconstruction process of Ukraine. The geographical positioning of our country will bring to the fore two counties that will become centers of interest in the West’s efforts for the country attacked by Russia.
Marcel Ciolacu wants an active role for Romania in the reconstruction of Ukraine
During the discussions that Marcel Ciolacu had with the US Representative for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy, Penny Pritzker, at the beginning of this month, the Prime Minister of Romania declared: “We are at a stage of identifying the most effective methods of support and transposing them into an integrated strategy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in which Romania wants to play an important role”.
Ciolacu stated that, regarding the reconstruction process of Ukraine, Romania “takes into account the EU mechanism for Ukraine, worth 50 billion euros, as the main benchmark”. Bucharest wants direct collaboration actions with Kyiv, but also in an extended format, regionally or with strategic partners.
On February 1, EU countries agreed to pay 50 billion euros in financial aid to Ukraine. “Continued financial support from the European Union will strengthen Ukraine’s long-term financial and economic stability, which is no less important than military assistance and sanctions against Russia”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at the time. This aid, previously blocked by Hungary, is crucial for Kiev.
What will the M5 look like, the superyacht of billionaires that turns into a submarine. It will have a helipad, a hot air balloon and a cinema
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the EU, its member states and its financial institutions have already paid around €85 billion in aid to Ukraine, covering military, humanitarian and economic aid.
Consolidation of the European security architecture
The reconstruction of Ukraine is not only crucial for this country. In fact, it is crucial for strengthening the entire European security architecture and preserving democratic values on the old continent. Europe’s peace, security and economic vigor today depend on a sovereign, democratic and prosperous Ukraine that claims its territories and is a full participant in Euro-Atlantic economic and security institutions, according to NATO.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s statements come after the international conference organized at the end of last year by the New Strategy Center, a Romanian think-tank on foreign policy and security, with the theme “Reconstruction of Ukraine and Romania’s Strategic Role”.
Participants emphasized the dimensions of Ukraine’s reconstruction plan, which exceed those of the well-known Marshall Plan after World War II.
How Ilie Dumitrescu reacted after finding out who filled Mihai Stoica with blood
“It will be the largest reconstruction process since the Second World War, surpassing in magnitude and costs the famous Marshall Plan. The most optimistic estimates put the costs at a minimum of $400 billion, but these are rising as the destruction caused by Russia continues.” according to the New Strategy Center.
Galati and Brăila, logistic hubs
During the conference, it was shown that Romania must be a platform for the companies involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine. In particular, Galati and Brăila counties can become logistical hubs for Western aid to Ukraine, including via a new airport that will be built in Galati, a project worth 500 million euros and which will connect Galati with neighboring counties.
“The proximity to regions such as Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson or Zaporizhia creates a great advantage for Romania and makes our country a natural platform for foreign companies. The Galati-Brăila area can develop into a logistics hub which, later, with European funding, will add the ports of Giurgiulesti, from the Republic of Moldova, and Reni and Izmail from Ukraine. It could be an example of cross-border cooperation, with beneficial effects for all three countries”showed up at the conference.
This cooperation will catalyze the presence of foreign companies and investments in the east of Romania, and in the counties on the border with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, where there are still differences in development compared to our country, it was stated during the conference.
