EXCLUSIV. Guvernul recunoaște: 30 mai nu era termenul la care România pierdea banii SAFE • Newsweek România

The Romanian government clarified that the May 30, 2026 deadline was not a general limit for all SAFE-funded projects, but specific to single-state purchases. This admission indicates that the urgency to sign contracts was not to avoid losing all European funding, but to take advantage of a legal window for individual acquisitions. The decision to accelerate contract signing was politically motivated, involving multiple government agencies. The government aimed for singular contracts to enhance national defense industry development, as these allowed for easier imposition of local production obligations. This approach contradicts the original intent of SAFE, which was designed for joint procurement among EU states.