Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca met on Wednesday at Victoria Palace with a delegation made up of members of the Royal College of Defense Studies in the UK, the discussions being focused on the security situation in the Black Sea and on the effects generated by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine. ‘During the discussions, the premier has analysed the situation of security in the Black Sea and had an exchange of opinions on the issue of effects generated by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, with focus on the solidarity manifested by the allies and the efforts of our country to manage the effects of increased prices for energy and natural gas, including through the objective of getting energy independence’, the press release says. On this occasion, Prime Minister Ciuca presented Romania’s geostrategic position in the EU and NATO, Romania’s strategies and instruments in the field of national security, but also the way of managing the situation in Ukraine and the actions taken by the Romanian Government in support of refugees. In this context, the head of the Executive stressed that Romania, from the time of illegal occupation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 to the widespread aggression of today, strongly supported the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, with reference to internationally recognized Ukrainian borders. At the same time, Ciuca stated that the security umbrella offered by NATO has determined, in the context of the solidarity of the allies, a highlight of the importance of the most powerful political-military construction, a context in which Romania continues to understand and support the importance of the enlargement process, as in the case of the European Union. ‘For Romania who puts to value the statute of member state to the EU and NATO, modernisation, digitisation, deburocratisation and training of the staff are essential to ensure sustainable economic growth. We are at a complicated moment, but which confirms the correct route of governmental decisions, by placing Romania at the top of economic growth at European level’ premier Ciuca said.