BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 24. The Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Romania, Oana Țoiu, participated in the debate
on the future Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2028–2034
period, held during the meeting of the Council of General Affairs
(CAG) in Luxembourg, Trend reports.

In her intervention, Minister Oana Țoiu reiterated the
importance that Romania attaches to the file and the country’s
commitment to contributing constructively to the ongoing
negotiation process. She emphasized that the European budget must
reflect both the current needs of Member States and citizens, while
also ensuring funding for the EU’s response to new priorities and
challenges.

Regarding the structure of the new EU budget, the Romanian
minister supported the continuation and adequate financing of
traditional EU policies, including cohesion policy and the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP), highlighting that these form part of the
Union’s DNA and insisting that they should not be placed in
competition with other financial instruments. In this regard, the
Romanian minister expressed reservations about the Commission’s
proposal to combine these funds, warning of the risk that such an
approach could affect easy and predictable access to European
funding, which is essential for the development of communities and
regions.

Concerning new priorities, Minister Oana Țoiu stressed the major
importance of security and competitiveness, endorsing the European
Commission’s consistent proposal for an ambitious budget. In her
intervention, the Romanian minister emphasized the need to fund
dual-use projects (civilian and military), whether related to
infrastructure or military mobility, given the geopolitical
realities on the EU’s eastern border and the Black Sea, and noting
that these investments serve the security of the entire Union.

Regarding the proposed Competitiveness Fund, Romania advocated
ensuring effective and broad access to resources for all Member
States and companies—large, medium, and small—thus avoiding
widening disparities within the Union. The Romanian foreign
minister insisted that funding should be allocated not only based
on excellence and innovation but also to traditional industries
(such as automotive, chemical, and metallurgical sectors), which
are vital for the Union’s strategic objectives, including defense.
She noted that this approach will contribute to increasing the
Union’s competitiveness and reducing dependence on countries
outside the European Union.