Romania currently has several options prepared, including assisted repatriation charter flights and evacuation flights, but such operations can only take place if airspace in the region is open, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Andrei Tarnea said on Wednesday in a press briefing on the Middle East security situation.
The official was asked whether repatriation flights are being planned following the decision adopted on Tuesday by the National Emergency Management Committee, allowing Romanian citizens to be brought home using civilian and military aircraft, with the costs covered by the Foreign Ministry budget or the Government's reserve fund.
"The document you are referring to is extremely important, because without it such expenses cannot be undertaken, and it is also a prerequisite for Romania to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which allows reimbursement for such flights if 30% of the repatriated passengers are citizens of other EU member states. Romania has done this many times when operating civilian or military repatriation or evacuation flights. As I said yesterday, Romania currently has numerous options planned. These include assisted repatriation charter flights and evacuation flights," Tarnea said.
He stressed that the key condition for carrying out such flights is that the airspace is open.
"As you have seen, airspace in the region is officially closed, with only limited security slots available. Of course, these options are being considered, as well as possible land routes if the conditions require it," he added.
Tarnea noted that the Defense Ministry is willing to operate such flights, but only if the necessary conditions are met.
"I won't speak on behalf of the Defense Ministry. What I can say is that the Ministry of National Defense is ready to respond to the Foreign Ministry's request to operate such flights, but this can only happen if the requirements I mentioned are met. So far, the only flights that have taken place were those using airspace that remains open," the spokesman said.
He also stated that Romania, together with other EU member states, continues preparations for alternative assisted repatriation or evacuation options for people considered a priority.
"We are talking about groups of children and people with medical issues. We are in contact with partners both at European and regional level, and developments will be communicated whenever there are significant updates," he explained.
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