From 22-24 February 2026, a delegation from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, led by Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities Aija Kalnaja, visited Romania for high-level talks on border security cooperation, training and cybersecurity.
The visit brought together Frontex and Romanian authorities to review ongoing cooperation and identify areas for further joint work, including training, operational preparedness, maritime surveillance and cyber resilience.
During the visit, the delegation met Secretary of State Bogdan Despescu at the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with Romanian Border Police chief Cornel-Laurian Stoica.
“Romania is an important partner for Frontex, and this visit showed the value of practical cooperation on border management,” said Aija Kalnaja, Frontex Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities. “There is clear scope to deepen our work together on training and operational readiness to strengthen the EU’s external borders.”
“Romania actively contributes to Europe’s security through cooperation with Frontex and the implementation of pilot projects that become models across the entire Agency,” said Bogdan Despescu, Secretary of State at the Romanian Ministry of Interior. “We are and will remain a stable and reliable partner.”
Cybersecurity was also discussed in a meeting with the heads of the Romanian Police, Gendarmerie and Intelligence Service.
The delegation visited Romania’s national unit for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the EU’s upcoming travel authorisation system. The site also hosts the headquarters of Frontex Contingent 1, which covers Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Georgia.
The programme also included visits to Romanian Border Police training facilities, the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Police Academy and the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie. Romania reaffirmed its readiness to host Frontex training programmes.
In Constanța, at the headquarters of the Romanian Coast Guard, the delegation was briefed on the SCOMAR Centre, which monitors and tracks maritime traffic in the Black Sea. Discussions also covered plans for a specialised tactical training centre and a possible future cybersecurity centre at the same location.
Frontex and the Romanian authorities agreed to continue cooperation on joint operations, specialist training, return-related activities and the fight against cross-border crime.
The visit builds on nearly 20 years of cooperation between Frontex and Romania. Romania became an observer to the Agency in 2005, the year Frontex was established.
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