Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Slovenia H.E. Mr. Andrii Taran leaded the Ukrainian delegation at the 12th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, which will be held from October 24 to 25, 2023 in the State residence of Brdo Pri Kranju, Republic of Slovenia.

On October 25, 2023, the Ambassador of Ukraine Andrii Taran, as the Head of the delegation, took part in the official meeting of the Ministers responsible for the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. 

A member of the delegation, Head of the Department of European Integration - Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Nikolayev also took part in the meeting.

In his speech Ambassador of Ukraine Andrii Taran emphasized that the Ukrainian side highly appreciates cooperation with the EU and the countries participating in the Danube Strategy, drew attention to the fact that the full-scale invasion of the russian federation into the territory of Ukraine leads to thousands of deaths among the civilian population, the destruction of civil and critical infrastructure, and also noted that russian shelling of the Ukrainian port infrastructure of the Danube region creates a critical threat for free navigation, creates a global food crisis, and an ecological threat to the Danube ecosystem.

“We all understand that the security and food crisis, logistic issues, problems in the economy and the energy sector have gone far beyond Ukrainian borders and have become global problems of the Danube Region and the entire European Community” – underlined Ambassador of Ukraine.

The Joint Statement of the Ministers responsible for the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region was signed after the Ministerial meeting. Parties strongly condemned the ongoing russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggressive war against Ukraine, expressed full solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and also confirmed full support for sovereignty, independence, and unity and territorial integrity of the country within its internationally recognized borders.

The Ministerial meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Tanja Fajon. During the Forum, the chairmanship of the Republic of Slovenia in the Strategy passes to Austria.

During October 24-25, 2023, the Ukrainian delegation will take part in numerous discussion panels and other events within the framework of the Forum, as well as hold a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of foreign delegations.