. Chapter III THREATS, RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES 46. Traditionally, threats, risks and vulnerabilities related to national defense and security are assessed against some military concepts, but the current security environment calls upon an extended approach, within which one could find, besides the security related issues, the economic, social, political, technological and environment issues. 47. Threats represent capabilities, strategies, intentions or plans which may impact upon the national security values, interests and goals. 48. Risks represent the probability of manifestation of an uncertain event, having direct or indirect impact upon national security. 49. Vulnerabilities are consequences of some systemic disruptions or shortcomings, which may be exploited or may contribute to the occurrence of a threat or of a risk. 50. The deterioration of the security situation at the international level, but especially at the regional level, calls upon knowing the main threats, risks and vulnerabilities our country confronts with, in the context of the occurrence and, possibly, development of a new form of influence and constraint, as a result of a mixture of conventional and unconventional components. 3.1. Threats 51. The actions performed to destabilize the Eastern vicinity generate major challenges to the security of the Euro Atlantic environment, causing regional instability and possible negative phenomena, amongst which we can mention migration, organized crime, and also alteration of the economic growth potential. 52. The perpetuation of the frozen conflicts in the Black Sea Region and the instability in the Western Balkans generate additional pressures for Romania. Inter‐ ethnical tensions and the regional imbalances in the states situated at the proximity may lead to the unleash of some regional conflicts. 53. The distortions on the energetic markets and the competitive projects of some state or non‐state actors alter Romania's efforts to provide a sufficient level of energetic security. 54. The cyber threats initiated by hostile entities, state or non‐state, upon informational 14