Romania’s defence ministry says a “recalibration” of intelligence is required to address increasingly complex and dynamic threats.
Citing a “turbulent and unpredictable geopolitical context”, Romania’s defence ministry has proposed a change to the status of the army’s intelligence directorate, turning it into an independent service modelled alone the same lines as the Romanian Intelligence Service and Foreign Intelligence Service.
Under a draft law drawn up by the ministry, the General Intelligence Directorate of the Army, DGIA, which deals with military espionage and counter intelligence, will be granted a distinct legal status and given new competences, including its own budget and the ability to hire civilian staff, particularly in the field of IT.
A note attached the draft law said that current threats, which it described as “increasingly complex and dynamic”, require a “recalibration of intelligence activity”.
Romania borders Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022, and has been central to facilitating exports of Ukrainian grain. Russian drones frequently fly near Romania’s borders. The EU and NATO member has raised defence spending in recent years.
The draft law on the DGIA foresees the creation of three new management roles: a first deputy and two deputy general directors, modelled on the Romanian Intelligence Service and Foreign Intelligence Service. The DGIA will have a separate budget to that of the defence ministry.
Its new legal status will allow the DGIA to establish commercial companies and to hire staff, notably in its role of combatting cyber threats.
“Covering the lack of human resources with expertise and training according to the needs of the organisation must be achieved by co-opting, at all levels of command, control and execution, people who have diversified cultural training, who know foreign languages, who have a profile psychologically adapted to intelligence work for the defence,” the note states.
It stipulates that responsibility for the hiring and firing of the director of military espionage will reside with the minister of defence, a change from the current law that requires the approval of the Supreme Council of Defence, CSAT.
Regular reports on DGIA activities will be submitted to parliament.
Source : Balkaninsight