State Defense Strategy: Corruption stays among Romania’s vulnerabilities

Corruption is among Romania’s vulnerabilities, according to the State Defense Strategy, transmitted on Friday to Parliament by president Klaus Iohannis, the document noting that this phenomenon generates prejudices to the economy and affects the country’s development potential and good governance.

“Traditionally, threats, risks and vulnerabilities to the defense and security are evaluated through military concepts, but the current security environment requires a broad approach, where to be found, in addition to security elements, also economic, social, political, technological and environmental aspects,” reads the National State Defense Strategy, at the “Threats, risks and vulnerabilities” chapter.

“Corruption makes the state vulnerable, generates prejudices to the economy and affects the country’s development potential, the good governance, the decision for the benefit of citizens and communities, as well as the trust in the judiciary and state institutions. Externally, the persistence of corruption has a negative impact on the credibility and on the image of our country,” reads the document.

“Other vulnerabilities derive from social exclusion and polarization, poverty, demographic decline, specialized labor force migration, socio-economic disparities between regions and counties, the fragility of civic spirit and solidarity,” also reads the Defense Strategy as quoted by Mediafax.

Other threats posed are the perpetuation of frozen conflicts in the Black Sea region and the instability in the Western Balkans, which creates additional pressure on Romania. “Inter-ethnic tensions and regional imbalances in the countries of proximity can lead to the onset of regional conflicts,” reads the document.