Bucharest, 13 November 2025
Press Release
Combating corruption is a national security objective
Transparency International Romania welcomes the initiative to address the fight against corruption as a national security objective.
The National Defence Strategy of Romania for the period 2025–2030, a document released for public consultation by the Presidential Administration, identifies the fight against corruption as a national security objective and proposes lines of action such as an “integrated approach to the phenomenon, through the concerted efforts of all responsible institutions and the effective use of available data.”
Over the years, Transparency International Romania has consistently emphasized the need to approach the fight against corruption in a manner that engages all societal actors—from public institutions and the political class to the private sector, academia, and civil society. Their sustained involvement in shaping a society founded on integrity is essential, with each actor bearing a distinct role and responsibility in combating corruption.
At the same time, we stress that the involvement of all societal actors in the fight against corruption must be carried out with full respect for the principle of separation of powers and with guarantees for the independence of the judiciary. The foundation of anti-corruption efforts must remain in strict adherence to the Constitution and to the laws in force, with particular emphasis on respecting the competences given by the law on each institution involved.
Furthermore, the entire initiative must be accompanied by an updated and well-harmonized legislative framework in this field, one that no longer contains the current gaps and inconsistencies, in order to provide the judiciary and state institutions with the necessary tools to combat corruption effectively and in the best interests of citizens.
The involvement of civil society and citizens in efforts to reform and modernize Romania with regard to strengthening public integrity represents an important step in our country road as a democratic mature state. Effective dialogue between public institutions, civil society, and the business community is essential for the development of public policies and initiatives that enhance trust in the public sector, social well-being, and economic growth. As also reflected in the National Defence Strategy for 2025–2030, there is a clear need for inter-institutional cooperation, and a constructive dialogue, assumed by all stakeholders, is precisely the means to address this shortcoming.
One of the public policies for which Transparency International Romania has advocated for more than ten years is the implementation of Integrity Pacts as a widely used tool for monitoring public procurement, including green public procurement, in order to mitigate corruption risks and promote trust in key public contracting projects. We emphasize the importance of civic monitoring of how public funds are spent, the fairness of these processes, and accountability for investment projects—while also providing a framework for identifying and reporting potential acts of corruption.
Transparency International Romania reaffirms its openness to cooperation with the competent authorities and with civil society partners in order to build a strong framework for collaboration in the fight against corruption.