Romanian Media Poses No Threat To National Security – EFJ

„We understand that, in Romania like in any other country, terrorism, crime and corruption pose a threat to the public and the Government, but we are puzzled to hear that media could be added to a list of threats to public institutions,” said EFJ president Arne Konig. Konig added that the media is an essential part of any democracy, as it helps investigate those threats. The EFJ president said he hopes the Romanian Presidency will acknowledge its mistake.

The EFJ is also strongly opposed to the proposal made by the Romanian Supreme Defence Council, or CSAT. According to the press release, journalists investigate and inform the public on various issues, including potential threats made to institutions.

The EFJ appealed to Romania’s Parliament, asking lawmakers to vote on the bill only after they amend it, so that it respects the role played by the media in a democracy.

Romania’s National Defense Strategy, sent to the Parliament Tuesday for debates and approval, states that Romania’s main weak points are the state institutions’ reduced capacity to apply laws, press campaigns aimed to discredit state institutions, the pressure exerted by media groups, which aim to influence political decisions, a reduced local and central administrative capacity, as well as the excessively politicized institutions, both at a local and at a national level

President Traian Basescu submitted the Defense Strategy to the Parliament for approval, adding that he is open to lawmakers’ recommendations.

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate decided Wednesday the report on the country’s National Defense Strategy will be drafted until September 1 and lawmakers will set off debates on the report in the Parliament’s fall session.