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The Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) is the state body specializing in foreign intelligence related to safeguarding national security and protecting Romania and its interests.
SIE’s objectives are:
- to collect relevant intelligence for the national security of Romania, which provides the basis for the decision-making process;
- to provide early warnings regarding risks and threats;
- to develop strategic assessments of the international security environment;
- to conduct operations so as to protect and promote Romania’s interests.
The SIE’s activity is performed according to the Constitution of Romania, the national legislation, the Decisions of the Country’s Supreme Defence Council, and the military regulations. The activity of the service is classified as state secret, therefore the intelligence sources, the tradecraft methods and means cannot be disclosed to anyone under any circumstances.
The Foreign Intelligence Service is authorized under the law to use specific methods, to have and create appropriate means of collecting, double-checking, assessing, harnessing, storing, and protecting data and intelligence information pertaining to national security.
The SIE’s products – resulted from its specific activity – are data, information, and assessments that are necessary for underpinning national security policies and decisions. They are delivered to the legal customers that have the responsibility to decide on and take appropriate measures.
Click here for the SIE Organizational Chart.
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Cooperation |
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The SIE is structured as an autonomous administrative body with legal person status, part of Romania’s national security system.
The SIE is part of the National Intelligence Community (according to Decision no. 146/2005 of the Country’s Supreme Defence Council). The SIE’s Director represents the institution in the Steering Committee of the National Intelligence Community, while the SIE’s Deputy Director for Operations is the delegate of the Service to the Operational Council of the National Intelligence Community. Furthermore, the SIE is present through its specialists and experts in the Integrated Intelligence Office within the Community. The cooperation between the SIE and other national security structures consists of timely exchange of intelligence on subjects of common interest, as well as in other aspects or working means that help to safeguard national security.
Since our security is indivisible and the asymmetric threats have an important external element, the Foreign Intelligence Service is part of a complex system of contacts and exchanges within the international intelligence community. The SIE’s contributions within various international cooperation frameworks translate into successful operations to thwart threats against our country, thus strengthening Romania’s image as a country that plays her part in safeguarding European and Euro-Atlantic security.
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Communication |
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In reaching out to the civil society and the media, the SIE tries to maintain the right balance between the citizen’s right to be informed transparently and its obligation to keep secret the information that, under the law, is not to be made public. This inevitably leads to a range of restrictions entailed by the special character of the tradecraft - restrictions imposed by all intelligence services in other democratic countries.
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Structure, coordination, oversight |
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The activity of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) is organized and coordinated by the Country’s Supreme Defence Council (CSAT). Every year, or whenever circumstances deem it necessary, the SIE Director provides the CSAT with reports on the way the Service discharges its missions.
Oversight of the activity of the SIE is exercised by the Parliament of Romania, through its Joint Standing Committee, respecting the confidentiality about the intelligence collection means and sources. Parliamentary oversight aims at ensuring that the Foreign Intelligence Service adheres to the Constitution and the Romanian state policy. While exercising its incumbent prerogatives, the Committee requests papers, data, and information from the SIE – through its Director –, and may hear persons to clarify issues under oversight.
Financially, the activity of the Foreign Intelligence Service is audited by the Ministry of Public Finance – which conducts an anticipatory financial verification –, and by the Court of Audit – which controls the revenue and expenditure budget execution.
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Overview