Meeting at DHS Between Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin Predoiu and U.S. Secretary of ...

The Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) informs: On February 20, at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu held a bilateral meeting with Kristi Noem, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

The two officials discussed the shared MoIA–DHS cooperation agenda, including migration management, border security, countering organized crime, and addressing emerging threats, including risks linked to transnational crime.

During the talks, the role of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit in Bucharest was highlighted—an MoIA–DHS structure unique in the region, serving as a regional hub with coverage that includes the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

Minister Predoiu presented the advanced tools implemented by the MoIA together with DHS, based on the legal instruments concluded, to enable rapid identification and prevention of security threats, namely the Enhanced Border Security Partnership (EBSP) and the Automated Targeting System–Global (ATS-G) program. It was noted that Romania is among the few countries that have operationalized the EBSP instrument.

The two officials also addressed the Visa Waiver Program. The Romanian official emphasized that this is a matter of major public interest in Romania and presented the technical capabilities already operationalized in support of the system. The two officials agreed to continue the dialogue and cooperation.

The Romanian official also proposed that the U.S. side consider strengthening DHS representation within the Bucharest unit; the American side noted this possibility with interest.

The two officials agreed to remain in direct contact regarding the agenda discussed.