The national security policy - From strategic thinking to security and defence institutions

The value of the “national security” concept is postured not only by its ability to describe the fundamental landmarks of statehood - from the national identity up to the sovereignty and wealth of the Romanian people - but also by its strength in directing the national strategic directions, mobilizing country essential resources and motivating the entire nation.

National security has multiple meanings. It is deeply dependent on contexts and bears many ambiguities. Furthermore, it implies full political responsibility, demands a solid strategic culture, and claims its conscious assumption at the highest levels of authority within the polity. The greatness of national security stands from the effectiveness of cooperation and dialogue of the political, economic, and social actors of the country.

On the other hand, the national security policy is the guiding force for the other public policies. As a result, national security is the nation's most valuable public good. It confers purpose, requires strategic thinking, generates complex processes, and produces tangible and intangible effects in the long and very long term.

National security creates a myriad of dilemmas, conditionalities, and constraints, to both the state men and the citizens they represent. What is the meaning of national security for the state, society, and every citizen? Who bears the responsibility of Romania's national security? What are the convergences and divergences between national security and Euro-Atlantic security? Does national security bring more freedom or more constraint to Romanian citizens? What are the major threats against Romania's national security? How much security is too much security? What are the affordable costs of national security? Why, despite the investments in national security, there is a persistent feeling of insecurity?

The answers to these questions are fundamentally dependent on the consistency and depth of the national security concept. A sound Romanian vision on national security and, implicitly a functional and effective national security architecture, can only result from an extended, honest, and non-partisan debate on its multiple values, incentives, and outcomes. In such a forum, the entire Romanian political spectrum, and the institutions responsible for national security must join the academia, civil society, and business environment to further provide identity and vitality to Romania’s national security.

The topics in focus start from fixing the meanings of the concept of national security for Romania, a member state of the European Union and NATO, located at “a critical intersection of east-west and south-north corridors,” on the NATO Eastern Flank and at the EU Eastern border.

• All Romania's citizens to understand both security and national defence's importance;
• Acknowledging Romanian state's institutions' role for the national security;
• The transparency of using public funds, by identifying the real needs and confirming the solutions through public debates;
• Involving citizens in the strategic decisions, in a responsible and information-based way;
• Identifying the main objectives and solutions that should be in the future National Defence Strategy;

• All Romania's citizens, by live streaming the event;
• Business people, private and public financial- banking institutions, by inviting them to debate and legitimize the proposed solutions;
• Public institutions' leaders, responsible with national security, by inviting them to debate and ease the dialogue with citizens;
• The academic environment in national security field, which can legitimize the concepts and theories;
• Political parties and civic organizations, through policies projects in national security field;
• Media, by easing the takeover of important subjects, given the presidential elections;

• 1. Romania’s fundamental national interests and major threats against Romania’s national security (from perception to rationality)

• 2. State's capacity to ensure the national security of Romania and its citizens.

• 3. Romania's national security in the current international context. What is the ideal model of national security?