CEPA Forum: Winning the War. Winning the Peace. – Conversation with H.E. Luminița Odobescu

The Center for European Policy Analysis invites you to a Conversation with H.E. Luminița Odobescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania on Wednesday, September 27 from 10 until 10:30 pm. This conversation is hosted in partnership with the New Strategy Center.

Join, H.E. Luminița Odobescu for CEPA Forum 2023 as she highlights Romania’s instrumental yet understated role in supporting Ukraine and resisting Russian influence, the emerging strategic importance of the Black Sea in safeguarding Ukraine and maintaining the rules-based order, Romania’s efforts to augment grain transit capacities following Russia’s withdrawal from grain deals, and the anticipated EU accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova amidst rising Euroskeptic sentiments and enlargement discussions in Europe.

The 2023 CEPA Forum: “Winning the War. Winning the Peace.” which takes place September 26-29, 2023 will host a dynamic series of virtual keynotes, discussions, debates, and stories focusing on the transatlantic response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and how to turn unity into action, bolster collective security, and achieve continued prosperity.

Luminiţa-Teodora Odobescu has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania since 15 June 2023. A career diplomat, Ms. Odobescu was a Presidential Adviser from November 2021 to June 2023, as Adviser for European Affairs to the President of Romania, also coordinating the Foreign Policy Department, and the Permanent Representative of Romania to the European Union between September 2015 and November 2021, successfully managing, in this capacity, the first Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU (the first semester of 2019). She was State Counsellor, and adviser on European Affairs and External Relations to the Romanian Prime Minister, between November 2012 and August 2015. In December 2014, she was granted the diplomatic rank of Ambassador.

Between February and November 2012, she was State Secretary on European Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and between June 2008 and February 2012 she was Director General of the European Union Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinating the EU Affairs and the bilateral political dialogue with the EU Member States, the acceding states to the EU (including Turkey), as well as the EFTA countries. Between 2002 and 2007, she held various positions in the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union in Brussels, being responsible for several chapters of negotiation in the context of Romania’s accession to the EU (energy, economic and monetary union, taxation, trade). Moreover, she was in charge of the trade relations and trade defense measures between Romania and the EU. Following the signing of Romania’s Accession Treaty to the EU, Luminiţa Odobescu took responsibility for coordinating and preparing the meetings of the EU’s Committee of Deputy Permanent Representatives (COREPER I), while also participating in several working groups of the EU Council and the European Commission.

Luminița-Teodora Odobescu was head of a unit within the Department of Foreign Trade between 1999 and 2002, being responsible for the management of trade relations between Romania and the European Communities, in the framework of the European Association Agreement. From 1995 to 1999, she held various positions in the European Union division of the same Department. Between 1992 and 1995 she was a researcher at “Virgil Madgearu” National Institute.

She holds a PhD in International Economic Relations from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, a degree obtained in 2003. In 1992, she graduated from the Faculty of Commerce at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. In 2007 she was conferred the “Order of Diplomatic Merit” in the rank of Officer for her contribution to the process of Romania’s accession to the European Union. In 2015 she was conferred the French National Order of the Legion of Honor in the rank of Knight, and in 2023 the “Grand Cross of Merit with Star” of Germany. In November 2019, Luminița-Teodora Odobescu was awarded the National Order ”Star of Romania” in the rank of Knight for her significant contribution to the success of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2019.

To register, to watch, and for additional information please visit: https://cepa.org/events/luminita-odobescu-cepa-forum-2023/