Public confidence in safety—in living in a society where laws are enforced and respected—is built through the contributions of all structures subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), including the Police, the Gendarmerie, the Border Police, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and all other constituent units, President Nicusor Dan stated on Thursday, on the occasion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Day.

'Today, we mark 164 years of existence and activity for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an institution that plays a major role in the protection and security of our citizens and of Romania. Public confidence—the sense of safety and the belief that one lives in a society where laws are enforced and respected—is built in part through the contributions of all the Ministry's subordinate structures: the Police, the Gendarmerie, the Border Police, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and all other units within the Ministry. I extend my full appreciation to the professionals within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subordinate institutions, and I encourage the setting of high performance standards to ensure a rapid and effective response to increasingly complex security challenges,' reads the Head of State's message, presented by Sorin Cîrstea, State Councilor at the National Security Department and Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT).

According to the Head of State, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' efforts toward institutional adaptation and development must continue, with the needs and expectations of the citizen at the core.

'Only in this way will we succeed in increasing citizens' trust in institutions and consolidating a solid, mutually beneficial partnership between the state and the citizen,' he pointed out.

Against a backdrop of multiplying and diversifying dangers and forms of crime—including at a global level—Romanians want to see results and know that the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are constantly working to ensure their safety, the President emphasized.

Combating domestic violence and abuse against women must remain a key priority, as must the fight against drug use—a scourge with devastating effects on adolescents and young people in Romania—the Head of State noted.

'Preventing and combating drug trafficking and consumption is a global priority, as we are obliged to counter this threat—which carries significant potential for destabilization—given its links to violence, corruption, infiltration of the legal economy, and international interconnections. Therefore, together—the state, institutions, society, and citizens—we must collaborate more effectively and do more for our common good and the safety of our citizens. It is essential that education and prevention remain priority areas for action at the national level, and each of us can and must contribute to achieving these shared objectives,' the message marking the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) Day further states.

According to the Head of State, one of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' major achievements in recent years is its essential contribution to Romania's accession to the Schengen Area.

'Achieving this status, which brings significant benefits to our country and its citizens, required significant progress in combating illegal migration and human trafficking. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has demonstrated the successful fulfillment of these requirements—as well as other conditions—amidst the difficult and complex task of securing the eastern border of NATO and the European Union. Today's celebration is, therefore, a fitting occasion to commend the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs—whether active, in the reserves, or retired—for their dedication and the sacrifices made in the line of duty,' stated President Nicusor Dan. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)