A member of Romania’s Information Technology and Communications and National Security Committee told Reuters that the country’s centrist government approved a U.S.-backed bill on April 15 that effectively bans China and Huawei from participating in the construction of Romania’s 5G network.
Pavel Popescu, a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, told reporters that “the government has just approved this bill, which is crucial for Romania, thus finalizing a memorandum to be signed in Washington in 2019. This means that China and Huawei are excluded from any possible 5G partners with the Romanian government.” According to the memo, the two governments said in August 2019 that “a careful and comprehensive assessment of 5G providers is necessary as part of a risk-based security approach.”
Romania was a staunch U.S. ally before joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004. Washington views Huawei as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s global surveillance apparatus. In mid-March, the Public and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a statement naming five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, whose communications equipment and services pose a threat to U.S. national security.
The bill passed Thursday reflects the U.S. memo and the position of Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defense. Popescu said, “National security is a key objective and it is crucial to protect the personal data of future generations of Romanians.” The bill proposes that the assessment of suppliers should indicate whether a company is controlled by a foreign government, has a transparent ownership structure and is subject to a legal regime that enforces transparent corporate behavior.
Popescu noted that the bill, which is likely to be passed in Parliament in the coming weeks, is a prerequisite for the launch of a 5G tender in Romania later this year.
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