Romanian Court Reviews Challenge to EU Defense Law Implementation

Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) is set to review a significant legal challenge concerning the implementation of the European defense industry support program, SAFE. The challenge, brought forth by 53 members of parliament, argues that the law approving the program's framework exceeds its intended scope and introduces unrelated legislative matters.

The lawmakers' petition, filed on May 27, targets both the overall law and specific provisions. They contend that the emergency ordinance underpinning the SAFE program, OUG nr. 21/2026, goes beyond merely facilitating the European Union's "Action for Security of Europe" instrument. Instead, it allegedly incorporates elements related to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), local public administration, public service, the administrative code, and public procurement rules.

According to Simona Macovei Ilie, leader of the S.O.S. România parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies, the contested law was fast-tracked and is now undergoing constitutional review before promulgation. The parliamentarians argue that these extraneous provisions violate constitutional principles related to the rule of law, legal quality, separation of powers, parliamentary roles, the conditions for adopting emergency ordinances, local administrative autonomy, and national budget regulations.

The core of the challenge lies in the claim that the legislative mechanism established by OUG nr. 21/2026 improperly bundles unrelated matters. The petitioners are asking the CCR to declare the law unconstitutional in its entirety or, alternatively, to strike down the provisions that deviate from the SAFE program's European objectives. The court's ruling will be pivotal, dictating whether the law proceeds to promulgation or must be sent back to Parliament for revisions.

“

Solicităm Curții Constituționale să admită prezenta sesizare și să constate că legea criticată este neconstituțională în ansamblul său. În subsidiar, solicităm Curții să constate neconstituționalitatea dispozițiilor prin care Ordonanța de urgență a Guvernului nr. 21/2026 reglementează materii străine de obiectul Instrumentului SAFE