The government approved on Thursday the legal framework required for the implementation of the European Financial Instrument SAFE, the main beneficiary of which will be the Ministry of National Defense, relevant Minister Ionut Mosteanu announced during a press conference at the Victoria Palace.
"Today we have taken a critical step toward implementing the SAFE financing instrument designed to strengthen Europe's defense industrial base. The legal framework now outlines the procedural roadmap, beginning with the April 2025 submission of a comprehensive project list to the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT). Throughout the summer and autumn, the Prime Minister's Chancellery - coordinating the SAFE initiative - held extensive consultations with producers, suppliers, and institutional beneficiaries," Mosteanu said, adding that the Ministry of National Defense is the primary beneficiary, joined by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of the Interior, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Emergency Management Inspectorate, and the Ministry of Economy, which will facilitate industrial cooperation and production localization for key equipment programs.
The minister specified that up to this point no contract related to SAFE has been signed. "We will continue these discussions until May next year, when we expect to finalize the contracts and define the framework for joint acquisitions with other European countries. This will include clarifying our partners, the scope of cooperation, and determining how much of each program will be produced in Romania versus abroad," stated Ionut Mosteanu.
He also emphasized that the projects to be implemented under the SAFE financing instrument include two key components: defense and transportation.
"There are two major components - defense and transportation. On the transportation side, we are focusing on two strategic highway segments in Moldova: Pascani - Ungheni and Pascani - Siret. My colleagues from the Transport Ministry can provide further details on these projects," he stated, noting also that the updated project list will be submitted to the Supreme Council of National Defence and forwarded to the European Commission by the end of next week. A response from the Commission is expected by January.
"By the end of May 2026 we aim to finalize and sign the contracts," Mosteanu concluded.
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