European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib will arrive in Bucharest on Thursday, 10 September, for discussions with President Nicusor Dan, acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, and Secretary of State Raed Arafat on Europe's crisis-preparedness agenda and Romania's contribution to EU civil-protection structures, the European Commission said.

Her visit comes as Romania has played a significant role in the EU's wildfire response this year, sending firefighting teams to France, Greece and Serbia, and deploying in August a new rescEU helicopter, the first aircraft delivered for the EU's permanent fleet.

In Bucharest, Lahbib will also meet members of Parliament's EU Affairs Committees and organisations working on disability rights, gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights and Roma inclusion.

Hadja Lahbib and Raed Arafat will hold a press conference at 18:15 at the General Inspectorate for Aviation, broadcast by the European Commission's audiovisual service.

On Friday, the Commissioner will travel to Chisinau, where her agenda will focus on EU support for crisis management and civil protection, as well as equality and non-discrimination in the context of Moldova's EU accession path. She will meet President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Deputy PM for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, and Interior Minister Daniella Misail-Nichitin.

Since 2022, the EU has provided Moldova with over €93 million in humanitarian assistance, including support following pollution on the Dniester River. Moldova has also contributed to Europe's wildfire response by sending firefighters to Greece and hosting Ukrainian aerial firefighting capacities.

During her time in Moldova, Lahbib will go to the Emergency Management Inspectorate General and, together with Labour and Social Protection Minister Natalia Plugaru, will visit a centre for victims of sexual violence and a refugee accommodation centre. A joint press statement will be broadcast on the European Broadcasting Service (EBS). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mariana Ionescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)

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