Romanian Secret Services May Get More Powers Under New Law

The Romanian internal intelligence service, SRI, could see its powers extended under a draft law being debated by the governing coalition, which has drawn opposition from NGOs.

The new law may oblige civilians or companies, as well as public authorities and institutions, to assist SRI inquiries about their operations, according to the news portal G4Media, which has seen the document.

The person or company from whom the SRI has demanded assistance would also be obliged to keep secret any "matters which have been the subject of the request". At present, it is not mandatory for either civilians or companies to help the SRI.

It will also only be possible for designated prosecutors to hear, search or detain SRI officers concerning the performance of their duties.

Prosecutors may only enter SRI headquarters that manage state secret information with the approval of the Supreme Council of National Defence's head, who is the head of state, and with prior notification of the SRI director.

At the same time, the director of the SRI could be dismissed more easily by the Romanian president if it is established that he or she was involved in political activities favouring any political party.

The new draft law strengthens the President's role in dismissing the head of SRI, compared to the current law under which he may be dismissed only by parliament.

The SRI could become a national authority, including in the field of interception of communications, so that the future National Center for Interception of Communications would operate within the SRI.

The SRI already deals with interceptions of communications. But a number of decisions by the Constitutional Court have been called into question by the SRI's apparent ability to...