EXCLUSIVE The Romanian state is building tools to protect Romanian citizens from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The draft national defense law gives the president powers for the first time for Romanians “in danger outside the national territory”

The draft national defense law, put up for public debate by the Ministry of National Defense, introduces for the first time the concept of Romania’s intervention to protect Romanian citizens in danger outside the national territory. Existing laws do not provide for this possibility. The new tool, made available to the President of Romania, appears in the context in which the Republic of Moldova is under the hybrid threat of the Russian Federation, and official statistics show that over 600,000 Moldovans also have Romanian citizenship.

What exactly does the national defense bill provide:

Article 4, paragraph 4:

The President of Romania can order, at the proposal of the Prime Minister, the necessary measures to protect Romanian citizens who are in danger outside the national territory, according to the law.

The mechanism proposed by MApN puts this decision in the attributions of the country’s president, at the proposal of the prime minister.

Also, the draft law stipulates that the Parliament approves the employment of military forces outside the territory of Romania.

Article 4, paragraph 3:

“Parliament approves the employment of military and non-military capabilities on the territory of the Romanian state or outside it, to counter hybrid threats, at the proposal of the President of Romania, after consulting the Supreme Council of Defense of the Country”.

Context

Romania currently has no legal instrument by which it can come to the aid of Romanian citizens from the Republic of Moldova or from Ukraine in the event of a military aggression by the Russian Federation.

Moldovan officials have constantly warned that the Russian Federation is waging a hybrid war against the country.

Read the full national defense bill here