Romania is becoming one of Europe's main security pillars, Senate President Mircea Abrudean said on Friday following the European Commission's decision to approve Romania's application for funding through the SAFE instrument.
'Romania is becoming one of Europe's main security pillars. The European Commission has approved the first wave of funding under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme. Romania is set to receive approximately EUR 17 billion to strengthen the country's defence capacity, the second largest amount allocated to a member state after Poland,' Mircea Abrudean wrote on Facebook.
He said that the army will be modernised and the defence industry developed without putting pressure on the national budget.
'We negotiated responsibly. We are modernising the army, developing the defence industry and increasing citizens' safety without placing pressure on the national budget, at a time of major geopolitical risks and a difficult economic context for Romanians. I would like to recall that SAFE is a European instrument with a total value of EUR 150 billion, created to support member states in making rapid and significant investments in defence industry and technology, and Romania will be able to finance projects that help us develop our own production capacity and strengthen our capital and national industry,' Abrudean stressed.
The Government announced on Thursday evening that it welcomes the European Commission's approval of Romania's application for funding through the SAFE programme (Security Action for Europe).
'The European Commission has approved Romania's national defence projects worth over EUR 16 billion through the SAFE programme. Starting in the spring, after the agreement is signed, Romania will be able to access this long-term loan at reduced interest rates. Among the projects that will have secured funding are the motorways in Moldavia: Pascani-Suceava-Siret and Pascani-Iasi-Ungheni,' Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday.
President Nicusor Dan said on Friday that the European Commission's decision to approve Romania's application for funding through the SAFE instrument is very good news, representing a strategic opportunity to accelerate the investments needed to revitalise the national defence industry.
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