NGO, associations voted for the unfavourable approval of the draft law on 5G technology: Economic and Social Council

Trade unions, associations and non-governmental civil society foundations have called for an unfavourable opinion on the 5G technology bill in an online meeting of the Economic and Social Council.

The Economic and Social Council was notified regarding the approval of the draft law on the adoption of measures regarding information and communication infrastructures of national interest and the conditions for the implementation of 5G networks

The parties represented in the Plenum of the Economic and Social Council expressed the following points of view:

– 2 representatives of the employers voted for the favourable approval of the draft normative act.

– 2 representatives of the employers, the representatives of the trade union party and the representatives of the associations and non-governmental foundations of the civil society voted for the unfavourable endorsement of the draft normative act.

– The draft law does not refer to the impact on human health. The Romanian Academy published on August 27, 2020 a release stating that “5G stations will generate electromagnetic fields about 100 times stronger than those of the generations already in operation, practically developing an ocean of high frequency millimetre radiation (30 -300 GHz), with huge potential risk, in the medium term, on life;

– it is preferable to involve the Parliament, so as to ensure continuity in terms of subsequent decisions, given the potentially limited mandate of the Executive.

– the draft normative act does not emphasize the economic efficiency, favourable to the Romanian citizen.

– in the EU and UK states, official opinions were issued on the balance between access to the best and most efficient technology and the best price and, in parallel, the protection of national security levels.

– it is preferable that the place of installation of 5G antennas be decided after obtaining the consent of all those within a radius of 500 meters around their location.

– it is required that before the adoption of the normative project, it be modified so as to respond to all the observations submitted by the Ministry of Justice.

– the draft law is not accompanied by a complete study on the level of risk regarding the health of the population and possible measures that should be imposed in these conditions to those who implement 5G networks.

– The whole draft law focuses on identifying eligible equipment manufacturers, rather than addressing and identifying security risks independent of the equipment manufacturer, an approach supported at EU level. EU instruments on cyber security of 5G networks focus on technical measures that should be regulated and implemented to achieve the desired level of security.