Radu Miruță rejects accusations regarding SAFE contracts attributed to Ukrainian companies: 'Seven out of nine lots were won by Romanian firms'

Radu Miruță, Romania's interim Minister of Defense and Transport, has strongly refuted claims circulating that all highway sections funded by the European SAFE program have been awarded to Ukrainian companies. He asserted that the majority of these contracts have actually gone to Romanian firms, countering what he described as 'fake news.'

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Out of the 9 highway lots with SAFE money, 7 were awarded to companies from Romania, one to a company from Italy, and one was won by a company from Spain. Therefore, 7 out of 9 contracts, several billion euros, are going to companies in Romania.

"Out of the 9 highway lots with SAFE money, 7 were awarded to companies from Romania, one to a company from Italy, and one was won by a company from Spain. Therefore, 7 out of 9 contracts, several billion euros, are going to companies in Romania," Miruță announced via a Facebook post. He added that the SAFE program is the first major initiative to demonstrably support Romania's own industry.

This clarification follows previous statements made by Miruță about the SAFE (Security Acceleration Facility for Europe) program. SAFE is a European lending instrument designed to accelerate investments in defense, strategic infrastructure, and national security. Previously, he had highlighted that most funds allocated for road infrastructure through SAFE were directed towards Romanian companies.

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The facts contradict the rumors, and SAFE is the first major program that has shown it sides with Romanian industry.

Miruță also addressed the issue of subcontracting, explaining that while Ukrainian companies might be involved in specific segments, they are not the primary recipients of the SAFE funding for these highway projects. He noted that as of May 30, three contracts were still under appeal at the National Council for Resolving Complaints (CNSC). However, two of these appeals have since been resolved, and discussions are ongoing for international agreements related to segments connecting to Ukraine and Moldova. One contract remains under legal clarification.

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On SAFE, there were nine projects, nine highway sections financed by this famous SAFE. Six of them have signed contracts. As of May 30, the remaining three were in appeals at the CNSC and could not be signed. In the meantime, two of them have been resolved in recent days and we are in discussions to conclude the agreement with Ukraine and Moldova, because they are the heads towards Ukraine and Moldova where an agreement must be concluded with these two countries. One is still in legal clarifications.