The draft of the new national defense strategy, under public debate

The draft of the new national defense strategy was presented on Wednesday by President Nicusor Dan. Russia's hostile actions are the main threat to national security, but the document also identifies other vulnerabilities, from demographic decline to the state's weak administrative capacity.

According to the new strategy, the intelligence services will return with an important but clearly defined role in the fight against corruption.

Oana Bala reports: "In the national defense strategy, several aspects related to public administration have been included in the chapter on vulnerabilities.

Nicusor Dan: Public administration has some problems. First of all, and this was one of my shocks, or surprises, I don't know, that even at national level, the administration does not work with data. There are many situations in which decisions are not based on data, we do not see a great appetite for collaboration between public institutions, each one focuses on its own small sectoral policy, and because of this we do not have an integrated vision and, of course, because of this we do not have any appetite for innovation among people in the administration.

Another vulnerability clearly identified in the national defense strategy is corruption, said the head of state.

Nicusor Dan: Regarding the phenomenon of corruption, I specifically mentioned a few things. First, an integrated approach, in the sense of collaboration between all institutions that have these responsibilities. Secondly, the involvement of the intelligence services in collecting data on this phenomenon. That is all, without involvement in the criminal investigation stage and in the justice process, and the correction of legislative and administrative mechanisms that delay the administration of justice in matters of corruption.

The document is under public debate and has been published on the Presidency's website. On November 24, it will be approved by the Supreme Council for National Defense, and on November 26, the President of Romania will present the strategy in the plenary session of Parliament."

Translated by: Radu Matei