The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) voiced its appreciation on Wednesday over the decision of the Presidential Administration to include in Romania's new National Country Defence Strategy in a substantial way media education, critical thinking and the fight against disinformation, as structural components of national resilience.
"It is a correct and necessary decision, in full agreement with CNA's recent call and with the realities of an information space clearly subjected to a cognitive war," CNA wrote on Wednesday in a social media post.
According to CNA, the new strategy explicitly recognises that the low level of critical thinking and media literacy makes society vulnerable to manipulation, extremism and radicalisation and consequently places the development of media and digital skills among the directions of action to protect the public.
The document also provides for the promotion of a culture of resilience through education, transparent public communication and public policies for all social categories, with a focus on children and young people.
"The council considers that the integration of media education into the strategic architecture of the Romanian state comes in the most appropriate context. At the same time, it is important to emphasise the importance of consistent implementation: truly transformative results - a more resilient society, a sounder public debate, better protected children and young people - will be seen in the medium and long term through consistent policies, adequate resources and inter-institutional cooperation."
At the same time, CNA is reconfirming its commitment to actively contributing to the achievement of these objectives.
"We will continue to ensure a media framework that is as balanced as possible and as protected as possible from harmful content, to combat disinformation through the legal instruments at our disposal and, at the same time, to firmly protect freedom of expression, which remains the foundation of a functional democracy. We will continue to get involved in media education projects, we will increase the dynamics of policies for the protection of minors online, we will continue to act in support of schools and communities and we will support public communication based on verified data, so that the strategy turns into real benefits for citizens."
The National Defence Strategy was put up for public debate on Wednesday.
"We want to defend the citizen who lives in this state," President Nicusor Dan said at a news conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
He said that on November 24 there will be a meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence on the National Defence Strategy.
On November 26, Dan will unveil the National Defence Strategy to a joint plenary session of Parliament.
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