site.btaBulgaria Requests EUR 3.2 Bln in Funding under SAFE Mechanism

Bulgaria has requested from the European Commission EUR 3.2 billion in funding under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, the Defence Ministry confirmed for BTA on Monday. The request is accompanied by the National Investment Plan for the European Defence Industry, which the Cabinet approved on November 26.

The Member States had until November 30 to submit their National Defence Investment Plans. Bulgaria met the deadline, the Defence Ministry specified.

The Plan includes projects for modernization of the Bulgarian Army and strengthening of the country's defence capabilities, the Ministry noted.

In late September, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said that all projects under SAFE have to be implemented by December 31, 2030. Bulgaria's list of priority investment projects include: acquisition of 3D radars; ground-based air and missile defence systems; development of supporting artillery capabilities through the acquisition of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers; acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions for the Army and Special Operations Forces; acquisition of a high-mobility multiple launch rocket system; acquisition of systems for detecting and countering unmanned aerial vehicles; development of transport support capabilities for the Armed Forces; and acquisition of VL MICA anti-aircraft missiles and 155 mm ammunition.

SAFE is the European Union's new financial instrument designed to provide financial support to Member States to speed up defence readiness by allowing urgent and major investments in support of the European defence industry. SAFE will provide up to EUR 150 billion in competitively priced, long-maturity loans to Member States requesting financial assistance for investments in defence capabilities. To maximise impact and reduce fragmentation, projects will be based on common procurement, involving at least one Member State benefitting from SAFE and another Member States, as well as Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries, shows information on the European Commission's website.