INSCOP Research | Launch of the National Security Barometer 2026: 51.1% of Romanians believe that Romania is a safe country in terms of national security

Launch of the National Security Barometer 2026

According to the study "National Security Barometer INSCOP Research – Strategic Thinking Group", the majority of Romanians (51.1%) believe that Romania is a safe country in terms of national security.

This is just one of the data extracted from the first "National Security Barometer", a sociological research conducted by INSCOP Research on behalf of the think-tank Strategic Thinking Group, within the project "New Economic Patriotism", initiated by NewMoney magazine.

The complete presentation of the sociological study data will take place during the event "National Security Barometer - Security in Transformation: Public Perceptions and Military Equipping Priorities" organized by newmoney.ro, the Aspen Institute Romania (AIR) and the Strategic Thinking Group, which will take place on March 19, at the Palace of the Parliament, Constantin Stere Hall, starting at 11 AM.

The debate is organized in partnership with the Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security of the Romanian Senate and is part of the Security, Defense Industry and Innovation Base program of the Aspen Institute Romania (AIR).

The event brings together Romanian officials, representatives of the defense industry and related fields, security experts, and academics, aiming to generate an applied dialogue based on data and solution-oriented.

Remus Stefureac, director of INSCOP Research: "Although the majority of Romanians consider that Romania is a safe country, the perception of national security is strongly differentiated among socio-demographic segments. Younger, urban groups with a high level of education tend to have a more positive perception of state security, while more socially vulnerable segments and rural residents show a higher level of anxiety. This uneven distribution of perception indicates that the feeling of safety is not uniform in society, but reflects differences in social integration and trust in institutions. From the perspective of national security, these divides are relevant because segments that perceive a higher level of insecurity may become more receptive to alarmist discourses, populist perspectives, or destabilizing narratives."

The level of safety in Romania

When asked whether, currently, Romania is a safe or unsafe country in terms of national security, 51.1% of Romanians indicated that Romania is a safe country (17.9% rated it as very safe, and 33.2% rather safe). On the other hand, 46.5% indicated that Romania is an unsafe country (27% rather unsafe, and 19.4% very unsafe). The proportion of non-responses is 2.4%.

Those who consider Romania to be a safe country in terms of national security are in greater proportions than the population average, especially: PNL (National Liberal Party) voters (77%) and USR (Save Romania Union) (81%), men (59%), young people under 30 (70%), people with higher education (74%), residents of Bucharest (61%) and large urban areas (61%). Those who believe that Romania is an unsafe country are especially: AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) voters (62%), women (53%), people over 60 (54%), those with primary education (61%), and rural residents (56%).

The graphical presentation of the data is available here: National Security Barometer 2026

EVENT AGENDA

11:00 – 11:30 Welcome

11:30 – 12:00 Official opening of the conference: towards a new paradigm of security

Nicoleta PAULIUC, President, Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security of the Senate

Cătălin-Viorel MÎNDROC, Secretary, Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security of the Chamber of Deputies

Mircea GEOANĂ, President of the Aspen Institute Romania

12:00 – 12:20 National Security Barometer 2026, conducted by INSCOP Research

Clarifying public perceptions and integrating them into the strategic debate on national security.

Remus ȘTEFUREAC, General Director of INSCOP Research

12:20 – 14:30 Debate: public perceptions and military equipping priorities. How do we develop the Romanian defense industry in synergy with the European industry?

- Where we are and where we want to go: current capabilities of the Romanian industry and development directions

- Reality check: funding mechanisms and accessing European funds dedicated to defense. How do we increase competitiveness, at the intersection of industry expectations and the state's ability to correlate security policies with industrial ones

- Critical infrastructure and national security

- Radu MIRUȚĂ, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense

- Mihai JURCĂ, Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery

- Clara VOLINTIRU, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- Sergiu PANAINTE, Regional Director, GMF

- Codrin SCUTARU, Executive Director, Public Affairs Solutions

- Bogdan OCHIANĂ, founder of Orbotix

- Lino LIM, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania

- Representatives of companies, analysts, experts

The event will be moderated by Alina INAYEH, Lead advisor, Aspen Institute Romania and Constantin RUDNITCHI, Editor-in-chief of NewMoney.

INSCOP RESEARCH is a private social and marketing research company established in 2013. INSCOP Research is part of the global ESOMAR network. INSCOP Research specialists have over twenty years of experience in sociological research activities, public communication, political science, and academic activities. Today, INSCOP Research is one of the most active and respected public opinion research institutions in Romania, a company with rigorous ethical standards, appreciated for the quality and impartiality of its products. Studies conducted by INSCOP Research are cited in thousands of articles in the Romanian and international press, in official national and international reports, in expert evaluations by prestigious Romanian and international think-tanks, or in academic publications. INSCOP Research offers a wide range of quantitative and qualitative services, statistical analyses for corporate clients, international institutions, or political organizations. INSCOP Research products are based on rigorous methodologies, experienced teams for data collection in the field, by phone or online, and experts specialized in complex data analysis. INSCOP Research collaborates with reputable and proven internal and international partners that ensure a high degree of accuracy in research results. INSCOP Research and Bullfinch Group from the USA have established a collaborative partnership through which they provide mutual support in conducting sociological studies in Romania, in other countries in the region, and in the United States of America.