Interim President Ilie Bolojan sent a message on Tuesday to the opening of the Digital Innovation Summit Bucharest event, in which he says that in the current security context, to which a significant government deficit is added, measures must be adopted to make the public apparatus more efficient, with technology and digital transformation being the most effective tools for deep reform.
„We are living in a defining moment, in which the security context, doubled by a significant government deficit, forces us, more than ever, to take measures to make the public apparatus more efficient. Technology and digital transformation are the most effective tools for an overhaul. They are not just tools but become an essential pillar for reducing expenses and increasing the quality and accessibility of public services. Technology and the digital environment, governed by artificial intelligence, become basic components of any public or private, civil or military project,” Bolojan says in his message read out by presidential adviser Mihai Jurca.
He adds that hybrid warfare, disinformation, cybercrime and security, as well as the need for quality and secure public services are just some of the problems to which solutions must be quickly identified and firm action taken.
„We are in the midst of a world marked by profound tectonic changes, dominated by the struggle for competitiveness and a technological revolution based on artificial intelligence. Given the circumstances, amplified by Romania’s strategic position, it is essential to correctly and realistically assess the complexity of the immense challenge that lies ahead of us.”
Bolojan also mentions the importance of protecting critical infrastructure.
„We have clearly seen that the war waged by the Russian Federation in Ukraine is unfolding in cyberspace, on energy infrastructure, and I am glad that Romania acted promptly by amending its legislative framework, through Law 294/2024, which requires and mandates critical infrastructures to include in their security plans measures to protect against cyber attacks and threats. No security or resilience plan can be approved without the provision of appropriate protection measures against cyber-attacks,” says Bolojan, who welcomes the initiative of Romania’s Ministry of Energy to establish, by the end of April, the first Sectoral Cyber Security Incident Response Centre.
He adds that Romania’s strategy to support Ukraine and Moldova is strongly linked to a vision of ensuring cybersecurity for critical infrastructures, seeking interconnection with the two neighbours, so that Romania can be a real support for them.
„In this context, we are looking for the best solutions with European and transatlantic partners for the resilience of critical infrastructures in Romania, because these, once secured, are a real support for our neighbours as well.”
Bolojan also mentions a growing importance of cyber diplomacy for coordinating with partners and allies in order to establish common regulatory agendas and standards, to exchange information that increases resilience in the face of cyber-attacks, to increase the fight against disinformation and to investigate and bring to justice those who are responsible for it.
„It is clear that we will not have an easy mission, but I am confident that Romania has the talent, the entrepreneurs, the private companies to offer solutions matching the innovation necessary to excel in this extremely challenging and difficult context. As gratifying as this is, it is as important for the political community to rise to the challenges and regain the trust of society through work and clear decisions,” says Bolojan.
He adds that together with the European partners, the American partners, the NATO allies, „Romania will intensify its efforts to provide the Romanian society with the security it needs to continue to prosper as it has done so far.”
AGERPRES
