Intelligence Structures for National Security

• Intelligence structures ensure knowledge, prevention, and elimination of internal and external threats to national security
• Intelligence structures are dedicated to conducting information activities within the country (SRI) and abroad (SIE)
• There are intelligence structures dedicated to specific ministries:
• National Defence Ministry (military information - DGIA)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs (DGPI)
• Ministry of Justice

Intelligence as an Organization

• Information activities for national security are carried out by organizations called intelligence services/structures
• Intelligence services are special state structures, state bodies, and public institutions belonging to the executive branch
• Information services are elements of the state's organizational structure, either subordinate to the government or, in Romania, organized as autonomous administrative authorities

Classification and Organization of Information Services

• The typology of intelligence services/structures is determined by certain criteria, including:
• Objectives and area/space of action
  • Internal intelligence services focus on internal security, safeguarding the state, territory, and society against terrorism, espionage, sabotage, subversion, organized crime, narcotics production, and trafficking
  • External intelligence services focus on internal security and strategic objectives protection
• The purpose for which they were established
  • Intelligence, counterintelligence/counterintelligence, security

Organization of an Information Service

• An information service is organized into specific entities/structures:
• Management, coordination, and control entities/structures that ensure the organization's management
• Collection entities/structures that interface the information service and sources
• Exploitation/analysis entities/structures that process information from collection structures and produce reports, bulletins, and informative syntheses
• Technical entities/structures that perform special technical operations
• Protection entities/structures that protect classified data and information
• Administrative/logistical entities/structures that ensure the service's functioning
• Intervention structures, operating centers
• Other specific structures: open source exploitation centers, specialized research centers, legal units, education/training units, and human resources

Characteristics of Information Structures in the Euro-Atlantic Space

• Diverse situations of subordination and coordination of information services exist, with specialized bodies and structures for information activities:
• Within departmental structures (ministries), predominantly the responsibility of defense ministries (France, Spain, Portugal)
• Balanced between the Defense and Interior Ministries (UK, Germany)
• Government-level coordination through structures within the information community
• In the US, there is a governmental civilian information agency/service (CIA), coordinated by the Director of National Intelligence, along with other civilian departments and military intelligence structures of the Department of Defense

Structures of Intelligence in Romania

• National security involves legality, balance, and stability necessary for the state's existence and development as a sovereign, unitary, independent, and indivisible entity and for upholding the rule of law and unrestricted exercise of citizens' rights, freedoms, and duties
• National security is achieved by identifying, preventing, and eliminating internal or external threats
• Intelligence structures implement the state security policy by identifying, understanding, preventing, counteracting, and eliminating threats to national security, as well as developing strategies to achieve this

Brief History of Romanian Intelligence

• Initial institutionalized information structures appeared with the organization of the modern Romanian army in 1859

• In March 1917, a Security Bureau of the Danube Delta was created, led by Mihail Moruzov

• In May 1925, the Superior Council of National Defence approved the establishment of a new intelligence structure called the "Secret Intelligence Service," headed by Mihail Moruzov

• In November 1940, Decree-Law No. 3818 organized the Special Intelligence Service, which was led by Eugen Cristescu and focused on Soviet Russia and the communist and legionary movement

• In August 1948, the General Directorate of People's Security (D.G.S.P) was established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs

• On March 30, 1951, D.G.S.P became the "General Directorate of State Security" (D.G.S.S.), including a "Directorate of External Information"

• July 22, 1967, the "State Security Department" (DSS) was established, coordinated by a "Council of State Security" (C.S.S.)

• In April 1972, the Council of State Security rejoined the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Security Department was reorganized into six main directorates

• After the December 1989 Revolution, security agencies in Romania were dissolved

Information Structures with Security and National Security Responsibilities

• National Information Services
  • Romanian Intelligence Service: specialized in gathering domestic information related to national security
  • Foreign Intelligence Service: specialized in gathering foreign information related to national security
• Structures:
  • General Directorate for Defence Intelligence for the National Defence Ministry
  • General Directorate for Internal Protection for the Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • Directorate for Crime Prevention in Penitentiary Institutions for the Ministry of Justice

Structures Providing Security Services

• Protection and Guard Service: specialized in protecting Romanian and foreign dignitaries during their presence in Romania and in ensuring the security of work and residence premises
• The Special Telecommunications Service provides technical support for transmitting information and communications for the information authorities

The National Intelligence Community

• Intelligence structures operate within a National Intelligence Community to integrate and leverage information products nationally for the development of national security strategies and policies

Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI)

• Specialized state body for carrying out intelligence activities within the country to achieve national security
• Led by a director with ministerial rank, appointed by the Parliament at the proposal of the President
• Organised:
  • Three Pillars: information, operations, and technical support
  • Administrative Pillar: personnel & training and Finances & Logistics
  • Security and Control Pillar: security, legal & audit
• There is a county directorate of information in each county
• Since September 1, 2019, there has been an operational update of the SRI - the Centrio and Regio Projects

Missions of the SRI

• National authority in preventing and combating terrorism with departments for:
  • Information Gathering: monitoring and analyzing terrorist risks nationally and globally
  • Anti-Terrorist Brigade: providing counter-terrorism intervention, diplomatic security, aviation security, security control, and pyrotechnic interventions
  • Center for Counter-Terrorism Operational Coordination (CCOA): ensures the operation with logistics.
• The SRI is responsible for counterintelligence, defense of constitutional values, and economic security

Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE)

• Specialized state institution in the field of foreign information concerning national security, defence of Romania, and its interests
• Authorized to use covered legal entities, specific methods, and appropriate means to obtain, verify, protect, evaluate, exploit, and store data and information related to national security
• SIE's activities are classified state secrets, and information sources, methods, and means of work cannot be disclosed to anyone
• The command of the SIE is provided by a director, with the rank of minister, appointed by the Supreme Council of National Defence at the proposal of the President of Romania
• Missions:
• Gathering relevant information for Romania's national security, ensuring the decision base for state authorities
• Early warning of risks and threats, as well as the preparation of strategic assessments of the international security environment

Directorate General for Defence Intelligence (DGIA)

• Specialised structure of the National Defence Ministry in the field of military information regarding national security
• The DGIA staff carries out open or covered activities, depending on the needs for achieving national security in the military field
• DGIA missions:
• Preventing strategic surprise
• Preventing/counteracting information gathering
• Protecting objectives and personnel
• Preventing/combating terrorism
• Eliminating control of proliferation
• Ensuring classified information security
• Providing a credible and efficient defense diplomacy

General Directorate for Internal Protection (DGPI)

• Specialised structure with responsibilities in the field of national security, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI)
• DGPI missions:
• Identifying, preventing and counteracting risks which may lead to public order or which regard the information
• Patrimony, personnel and all operations of MAI structures; to ensure coordination and control for classified national information safety

Directorate for Crime Prevention in Penitentiary Institutions (DPCMC)

• Established in 2006, the Directorate for Crime Prevention in Penitentiary Institutions (DPCMC)
• DPCMC goals:
• Identifying and preventing mistreatment, torture, or inhumane treatment of detainees
• Collaborating with institutions to protect witnesses in detention
• Preventing organised crime

Protection and Guard Service (SPP)

• A state body responsible for the safety of Romanian dignitaries, foreign officials visiting Romania and their families
• It provides protection, intelligence gathering and operations, and information security

Missions

• The Centre of Excellence for Protection and Security (CEPS) trains military protection and security personnel to U.N. standards.
  • It is headed by a Secretary of State appointed by the Romanian president and operates a Security Council

Special Telecommunications Service (STS)

• A specialized structure that organizes, conducts, controls, and coordinates activities in the field of special telecommunications for public authorities in Romania
• Examples of special telecommunications: transmissions, emissions, or receptions of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical system, or other electromagnetic systems for users provided by law

National Intelligence Community (CNI)

• A framework for organization, coordination, and strategic planning of intelligence structures
• The CNI Components: SRI, SIE, DGIA (Ministry of Defence), DGPI (Ministry of Internal Affairs)
• The main structures of the CNI are:
• The Coordinating Committee for the National Intelligence Community:
  • Presidential advisor for national security
  • The Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service
  • The Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service
  • The minister of defence
  • The minister of foreign affairs
  • The minister of internal affairs
  • The minister of justice
  • National Plan for Information Priorities.
• Operative Council of the National Intelligence Community
  • The Prime Minister's Counselor for Security issues
  • The Deputy Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service
  • The Deputy Director of the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service
  • The General Director of the General Directorate of Information
  • The General Director of the General Directorate of Internal Protection
    • It ensures the fulfillment of the provisions in the national information plans
    • Protocol for the prevention and countering terrorism;
• Office for Integrated Information of the National Intelligence Community - It plans the information needs and provides integrated products;
• Advisory Council of the National Intelligence Community
  • Academics, and public policy experts