Romanian defense industry urges SAFE funds to build real production capacity

PATROMIL, Romania's military technology producers association, warns that the €16.68B SAFE allocation risks being spent on off-the-shelf systems rather than building domestic manufacturing, maintenance, and modernization capabilities. The group offers pro bono support to optimize SAFE contracts, highlighting a gap between procurement and industrial sovereignty. This signals potential friction in EU defense spending priorities and Romania's push for strategic autonomy.