Supreme Defence Council convening to tackle drug-taking

The Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) is convening today at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace under the leadership of President Klaus Iohannis.

According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meeting includes drug-taking by young people and students as a major risk to individual and national security; recent developments in the security state of play in the Black Sea region amidst Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and their implications for Romania; the 2024 - 2033 defence acquisitions.

Iohannis said a month ago that drug-taking among young people - which he considers an alarming phenomenon - will feature on the agenda of the CSAT meeting.

"It is a problem that concerns our society increasingly more, and I am glad that there is an increased interest in trying to find solutions to combat this scourge. I decided to include it on the agenda of the next meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence on this subject. The effects, the extent, the societal challenges of drug-taking, especially from a young age and in schools, are a serious challenge to individual and national security," Iohannis told an opening of the 2023-2024 school year.

He emphasised the importance of preventive and responsible behaviours: "It is crucial that the younger generations understand from an early age the dangers and dramatic consequences of drug, alcohol and tobacco taking."

The previous CSAT meeting took place on July 6.